Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. (Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO)),
a brand-led premium spirits and super-premium wine business, announced
today the appointment of Rory Finlay as senior vice president and
global chief marketing officer, effective January 29, 2007.
Finlay will be responsible for overseeing the development and
implementation of global marketing strategies for Beam Global's
leading spirits brands, including Jim Beam(R) bourbon; Canadian
Club(R) Canadian whisky; Courvoisier(R) cognac; Laphroaig(R) Scotch;
Sauza(R) tequila; Maker's Mark(R) bourbon and Starbucks(TM) Liqueurs.
Finlay brings to Beam Global Spirits & Wine extensive experience
in global consumer marketing, brand building, strategy and management.
He joins Beam Global after an 18-year career at Wm Wrigley Jr.
Company, where he most recently served as vice president and managing
director, New Confectionery Brands, leading the company's management
and marketing efforts for popular consumer brands including Altoids(R)
and Life Savers(R). He previously managed and led the worldwide
marketing of global brands including Eclipse(R), Extra(R),
Doublemint(R) and Winterfresh(R), and was responsible for the launch
of several new products, including Orbit(R), Wrigley's biggest and
fastest growing brand. Finlay will serve as a member of the Beam
Global Executive Committee and will report directly to president and
CEO, Tom Flocco.
"Rory Finlay is a proven builder of leading consumer brands with
an impressive record of growing iconic brands in key global markets
and launching fast-growing new products," said Tom Flocco, president
and CEO, Beam Global Spirits & Wine. "With the expansion of our
portfolio of premium brands, Beam Global is on its way to becoming a
brand-led company. Rory has extensive experience building brands from
idea through field execution. He has driven several successful
multi-brand efforts on both global and national levels, making him an
excellent fit with our brand-led strategy."
Finlay will also play a critical role in supporting Beam Global's
commitment to be a leader in marketing its products responsibly to
legal purchase age adults, as outlined in the company's Beam Global
Spirits & Wine Marketing Code of Good Practice.
Finlay takes the helm from John Muller, who has led the marketing
function on an interim basis for the past six months while also
serving as senior vice president, strategy and corporate development.
Muller will continue his responsibilities as senior vice president,
strategy and corporate development, working closely with the company's
business units to implement its commercial priorities.
"We thank John for the steadfast and exemplary leadership while
serving as our interim global chief marketing officer. We owe him a
debt of gratitude for his tireless efforts directing the positive
momentum of our brand building objectives while leading both the
global marketing function and enhancing Beam Global's long-term
business strategy," stated Flocco.
Finlay received a Master of Management degree from J.L. Kellogg
Graduate School of Management in 1988 and a Bachelor of Arts degree
with Honors from the University of Leeds, Leeds, UK in 1983.
About Beam Global Spirits & Wine
Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. is the fourth largest premium
spirits company in the world. With nine of the world's top-100 premium
spirits in its portfolio, the company's brands hold global and
national leadership positions in key categories, including Jim Beam(R)
bourbon; Canadian Club(R) Canadian whisky; Courvoisier(R) cognac;
Laphroaig(R) Scotch; Sauza(R) tequila; Larios(R) gin; Whisky DYC(R);
Teacher's(R) Scotch; and DeKuyper(R) cordials. The portfolio also
includes Maker's Mark(R) bourbon, Knob Creek(R) bourbon and The Small
Batch Bourbon Collection(R), and Starbucks(TM) Liqueurs. Beam Wine
Estates is a top-five super-premium wine company in the U.S.,
featuring Clos du Bois(R), the number two super-premium U.S. wine
brand, and the award-winning Geyser Peak(R) wine. Beam Global Spirits
& Wine, Inc. is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), a leading
consumer brands company with annual sales exceeding $8 billion. For
more information on Beam Global Spirits & Wine and the company's sales
and distribution partners, please visit www.beamglobal.com.
Altoids(R) mints, Life Savers(R) candy and mints, Creme Savers(R)
hard candy, Juicy Fruit(R) gum, Eclipse(R) gum, Extra(R) gum,
Doublemint(R) gum, Big Red(R) gum and Winterfresh(R) gum are
registered trademarks of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company.
(C) 2007 Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., Deerfield, IL.
drink smart(R)
