Beam Suntory appoints new travel retail director

Beam Suntory has bolstered its travel retail team with the appointment of a former Morrison Bowmore director as MD of GTR.

Beam Suntory has had a strategic review of its travel retail business, following the merger of the two companies in May

David Wilson previously worked for five years under Suntory’s Morrison Bowmore arm as sales and marketing director, which is now part of the Beam Suntory family.

His appointment follows a “strategic review” by the company of its global travel retail business, which “has resulted in a sharpened focus on developing growth”.

Albert Baladi, president of Beam Suntory EMEA, said: “Beam Suntory is now the No. 3 spirits company in the world, with an advantaged portfolio in key categories and an unmatched global premium whiskeys portfolio.

“We are committed to investing and growing our brands in the strategic travel retail channel. David brings proven leadership skills and expertise in premium brand building on a global stage, which will add real value to developing our vision.”

Wilson took up his new role on 1 October, reporting directly into Baladi.

“I am delighted to be joining the Beam Suntory team at this time, to lead the next chapter for our GTR business,” Wilson said. “I have spent a significant part of my career building and growing premium brands and I very much look forward to working with our retail partners to develop our mutual businesses.”

Beam Suntory has been making several staffing changes since its merger completed May.

In the last few months, the group has appointed SABMiller’s Mauricio Restrepo as chief financial officer, and Tim Hasset as president North America following the resignation of Bill Newlands.