Bacardi, PepsiCo and Britvic are among the companies welcoming new faces to top jobs.
Bacardi, PepsiCo and Britvic are among the companies welcoming new faces to top jobs.
Bacardi has a new Master of Botanicals for its Bombay Sapphire and Martini vermouth brands, as it announces the promotion of Alessandro Garneri to the role.
Garneri takes the reins from Ivano Tonutti, who will retire this year following a 33 year career at Bacardi.
An expert agronomist, Garneri has been part of the Bacardi team for more than 17 years. He has headed up the company’s Global Botanicals Center in Geneva since 2017, taking a leading role in installing cutting-edge technology at the plant, as well as pushing boundaries on sustainable sourcing and the latest product innovations in the Bacardi portfolio of premium spirits.
In his new role, he is responsible for overseeing the field-to-bottle journey of every botanical used to craft Martini and Bombay Sapphire, as well as for St-Germain Elderflower liqueur, Noilly Prat vermouth and Benedectine liqueur – ensuring the consistent quality and flavor of each.
Garneri has trained under Ivano Tonutti for the last six years to ensure a seamless transition. As he begins his retirement later this year, Tonutti will continue to work closely with Bacardi as an expert advisor, supporting advocacy efforts and sharing his knowledge and expertise.
Tonutti’s work is behind the signature flavor of a number of Bacardi innovations, from Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru to the non-alcoholic Martini aperitivo. He has overseen numerous landmark sustainability milestones for Bacardi. Last year the company announced 100% of the wineries for the Martini portfolio are certified sustainable, while Bombay Sapphire became the first major gin brand to be made with 100% sustainably sourced botanicals.
Roberto Azevedo, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Chairman of the PepsiCo Foundation Board, has decided to retire from PepsiCo effective at the end of June.
“Azevedo successfully built an integrated Corporate Affairs function and helped advance the company's pep+ agenda by driving impactful public-private partnerships in support of common goals,” says the beverage and snack giant.
“He also leveraged the PepsiCo Foundation to continue making a positive impact in the communities where PepsiCo operates.
“He plans to pursue his next chapter with a continued focus on supporting the global transition to a more inclusive and greener economy.”
Stephen Kehoe has been appointed as PepsiCo's incoming Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Chairman of the PepsiCo Foundation Board, effective May 1. He brings more than 30 years of experience in communications, public policy, government affairs and social impact including previous roles at Visa Inc. and Edelman.
This is Kehoe’s second tour at PepsiCo, where he was previously Vice President of Communications & Government Affairs for Europe and later Senior Vice President of Communications & Public Policy/Government Affairs with the global team in Purchase, NY.
Kehoe will be a member of PepsiCo's Executive Committee reporting to Chairman and CEO, Ramon Laguarta.
Britvic has appointed Cindy Tervoort as CMO, with effect from 1 July 2023.
She will join Britvic from Heineken PLC, where she is currently managing director for Beerwulf.com. Before this, she spent five years as a Board Member of Heineken UK, leading the marketing of all their 24 beer and cider brands, as well as the company’s digital transformation, consumer media, innovation, category, and trade marketing. Tervoort is described as a ‘highly experienced international marketer’, with deep FMCG knowledge and experience gained at Unilever and PepsiCo, as well as Heineken.
Tervoort takes over from Matt Barwell, who will leave the company at the end of June after nine years with the company.
Barwell joined Britvic in 2014, having held a series of senior marketing roles at Diageo and Mars, and has served as a key member of the Britvic Executive team.
“During his time at Britvic, Matt has successfully improved the way the company builds brands, strengthened our marketing capability and in-housed our digital resource,” says Britvic. “He has overseen award-winning work on iconic brands such as Robinsons, J2O and Tango. He has been central to building a broader international footprint for the business, through the launch of brands such as London Essence mixers and sodas, and through acquisitions in Brazil. Matt has also played a pivotal role in the creation of the company’s Healthier People, Healthier Planet sustainability strategy.”
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has announced that Dr. Laura Catena, the well-known ‘face of Argentine wine’ and founder of Catena Institute of Wine, will become its new Honorary President.
Announced during the WSET’s annual Graduation Ceremony and Prize Reception at the Guildhall in the City of London, Catena takes over from Paul Symington CMG.
A total of 587 new WSET Diploma graduates were honoured at the ceremony, bringing the total number of WSET Alumni globally to over 12,500. There were graduates from 20 countries worldwide who studied with 35 different WSET course providers.
Dr. Laura Catena is a fourth generation Argentine vintner, physician and author. She is currently managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata, and is known for promoting the Mendoza wine region and Argentine Malbec.
Dr Laura Catena, WSET Honorary President, said: "I am deeply honoured and committed to supporting WSET in its efforts to increase diversity in the world of wine, and to communicate and embrace sustainability in our community. There is no organisation with a wider international footprint than WSET in wine, and that is why the Honorary President position is so exciting for me.”
German start-up yfood – a company which 'aims to reform unhealthy eating habits through nutritionally complete ready-to-drink meals' – has appointed a new UK & Ireland Country Manager: Paul Sloane.
The brand, which launched in 2017, counts itself as one of the fastest-growing food startups in Europe, with over 95 million meals sold, via its ready-to-drink products, powders and snack bars.
The appointment of a new UK & Ireland Country Manager with extensive retail experience is a move to grow aggressively within the UK market, says the company.
Paul Sloane joins yfood from vegan chocolate brand and German start up Nucao, bringing over 20 years of food and drink retail experience. At Nucao, Sloane worked closely alongside founders and investors to successfully reset and reposition the brand in Germany as an indulgent, fun and end-to-end sustainable chocolate business.
A commercial and retail expert, Sloane also has a wealth of blue chip leadership team experience having led business unit teams across sales, category and revenue strategy at Mondelez International and GSK Consumer Health, adding to his career experience at Premier Foods and Unilever.
As UK & Ireland Country Manager, Sloane will set direction and lead the sales, marketing and operational strategy to grow the yfood business across all channels.
Each yfood product offers essential nutrients key: with at least 25 vitamins and minerals.
The business was created by founders Benjamin Kremer and Noel Bollmann, in a bid to provide consumers with a healthy solution to not having the time or availability to prepare a balanced meal.
In the UK, yfood’s portfolio of products are currently available to purchase in-store and online at selected Holland & Barrett as well as Co-Op and Nisa stores. yfood provides multiple solutions, for dairy and vegan shoppers, with both options provided as lactose free, gluten free and no added sugars.
