Foster's Group Limited (Foster's) today announced a number of senior management changes to its Beringer Blass Wine Estates (BBWE) global wine trade business. The changes will take effect immediately.
Mr Jamie Odell, currently Managing Director Trade Asia Pacific, has been appointed to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, Global Trade, reporting to Mr Walt Klenz, Managing Director, BBWE.
As Chief Operating Officer, Mr Odell, will assume management responsibility for BBWE's global wine trade operations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, with each of the three regional trade leaders reporting to Mr Odell. In his new role, Mr Odell will also assume management responsibility for global supply chain management and will continue to oversee management of BBWE's wine services division. Mr Odell brings to the role more than 24 years experience in the beverage sector in Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom.
Prior to joining BBWE in 2000, Mr Odell was Managing Director of URM Brands for Allied Domecq in the UK, before being appointed as Regional Vice President (Asia Pacific) Allied Domecq Duty Free, responsible for sales through travel related channels in Asia and Australasia. Since joining BBWE, Mr Odell has progressed from his appointment as Vice President, International Business Development to Managing Director, Mildara Blass Trade Australia and Managing Director, Trade Asia Pacific to his recent appointment as Chief Operating Officer, Global Trade.In the North American wine trade business, Mr Dan Leese, currently Chief Operating Officer, Trade Americas, has been appointed to the newly created role of Managing Director, Trade Americas. As a result of this change, Mr Jim Watkins, formerly President, Americas, will be leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.
Mr Leese has extensive experience in the North American alcoholic beverage sector. He began his career in 1979 with Coors Brewing Company and spent six years with the Stroh Brewing Company before moving to Brown-Forman in 1987, where he progressed to the position of Managing Director of Brown-Forman's US Wine Business. Mr Leese joined BBWE in 2001 as General Manager, Premium Wine Division and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Trade Americas in January, 2003. Mr Leese' 25 years experience across the brewing and wine sectors, positions him well for the role of Managing Director, Trade Americas.
Mr John Philips will continue in his role as Managing Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa, reporting to Mr Odell.
Mr Randolph Bowen has been appointed to the newly created role of Vice President, Global Supply Chain, reporting to Mr Odell. Mr Bowen will be responsible for driving supply chain cost efficiencies across all regions. He will also assume management responsibly for BBWE's wine services division, which will continue to be headed by Mr Rueben Summerell.
An executive search has commenced to fill the now vacant position of Managing Director, Asia Pacific.
The new wine trade leadership team builds on BBWE's strategy to establish strong geographic bases from which to drive the wine trade business throughout the world. The creation of a global trade leadership role adds to this model, providing a dedicated global management focus to facilitate global brand building and to deliver continued supply chain efficiencies and enhancements on returns on capital employed.
Commenting on the management changes, Mr Walt Klenz, Managing Director of Beringer Blass Wine Estates said, "Jamie has established a very successful business model for Trade Asia Pacific. His expertise in global brand building has delivered high margin premium wine market growth and significant improvements in capital employed in the Asia Pacific region, which prepares him well for his appointment as Chief Operating Officer, Global Trade."
"In North America, we wish Jim Watkins well for the future and welcome Dan Leese to his new role as Managing Director, Trade Americas. Dan has a strong track record in the beverage sector in North America and is highly regarded in the industry.
"Going forward, key priorities for the North American management team are to maintain sales growth while focussing on extracting maximum value from the supply chain, production and operations," Mr Klenz said.
Mark Emerson, Executive Director of Global Wine Clubs, will continue to report directly to Mr. Klenz, as will Andrew Leyden, who was recently appointed as BBWE's Global Finance Director.
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