Media Release: BEAM GLOBAL SPIRITS & WINE APPOINTS CRUZAN® RUM MARKETING TEAM
Fastest-Growing Rum in the U.S. and Tequilas to Benefit from New Hires
Deerfield, Ill. – December 3, 2008 – Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. [Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO)], a global leader in premium spirits, is pleased to announce the appointments of marketing veterans Peter Wijk and David Turo. Wijk and Turo join the U.S. brand marketing team managing Cruzan® Rum, a recent acquisition that expands the Beam Global portfolio of premium brands to include the fifth-largest and fastest-growing rum brand in the U.S. Wijk has been appointed U.S. senior director, lifestyle brands, which includes Cruzan and Beam Global’s tequila portfolio, Sauza® Tequila and El Tesoro de Don Felipe® Tequila. Turo is now the senior brand manager for Cruzan, moving from his former position in Beam Global as the marketing director for the west coast division.
“With the addition of Cruzan to our portfolio, we not only gained one of the world’s leading rum brands, but also the marketing expertise of Peter and David,” said Bill Newlands, president of Beam Global’s U.S. business. “Peter’s international experience in brand marketing and developing brands is critical as we fuel the growth of Cruzan and our tequilas. David has been a critical player in building our brands on the west coast, and we’re excited to lend his energy, talents and creativity to Cruzan.”
Wijk will lead the charge as U.S. senior director for two critical portfolio priorities for Beam Global, tequila and rum. He will manage the commercial business for those brands, leading the national marketing and integrating Cruzan. Prior to joining Beam Global, Wijk served as the U.S. brand director for the Absolut Spirits Company where he spearheaded the integration development of newly acquired brands for the company, including Cruzan Rum, Plymouth® Gin and Frïs® Vodka. Prior to that position, he was the director of global market communications, leading the international development of ABSOLUT® VODKA. Originally from Sweden, Wijk graduated from Technical College of Helsinborg, Sweden and went to Brand School of RMI-Berghs School of Communication in Stockholm.
Turo will continue integrating Cruzan into the Beam Global family and lead 2009 planning to accelerate the growth of Cruzan in the U.S. Before his new appointment, Turo served as marketing director for the west coast, driving local brand growth for the Beam Global portfolio by serving as the liaison with brand marketing while also managing and executing local marketing programs. Prior to joining Beam Global, Turo was a marketing director for Florida with Allied Domecq and worked for Coca-Cola North America as the business development manager for bottled waters and as brand manager for Dasani® and POWERade®. Turo received his Bachelor of Arts in marketing from Syracuse University and his Masters of Business Administration from Boston University.
About Beam Global Spirits & Wine:
Inspiring conversations around the world, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., is building brands people want to talk about. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam® Bourbon, Sauza® Tequila, Canadian Club® Whisky, Courvoisier® Cognac, Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Cruzan® Rum, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, Teacher’s® Scotch Whisky, DeKuyper® Cordials and Liqueurs, Knob Creek® Bourbon and Starbucks™ Liqueurs. Beam Global Spirits & Wine 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, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.
Katie Young – Senior Associate
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