New marketing role for Beam Suntory

Spirits producer Beam Suntory has announced the creation of a new US marketing general manager role, which is to be taken by former Kraft Heinz executive Greg Hughes.

Variants of Jim Beam Bourbon (Photo: Beam Suntory)

The newly created role will report to Beam Suntory Americas president Tim Hassett. It will oversee vice presidents in charge of three areas: Bourbon, World Whiskey and Innovation, and Mixables, such as vodka and Tequila.

Greg Hughes, who started in the job yesterday (August 17), is charged with “accelerating market share growth and driving demand for brands like Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Hibiki and Courvoisier in the US”, the company said.

Hughes joins Beam Suntory from The Kraft Heinz Company, where he served as vice president of marketing for the company’s “Enhancers” portfolio of food products, which is reportedly worth over $1 billion (£640m).

“Greg brings impressive marketing prowess, strategic thinking, commercial acumen and a track record of driving business results in large and small organisations,” Beam Suntory Americas president Tim Hassett said.

“His broad functional experience is a unique mix of marketing, operations, supply chain and sales, which will be key in continuing our momentum in the Americas.”