Beam Suntory appoints new general counsel

Kent Rose is to retire as Beam Suntory’s general counsel after 30 years at the company, with Todd Bloomquist poised to take over the role.

Kent Rose will leave Beam Suntory after 30 years with the company

Rose, who is also chief administrative officer and secretary for the Illinois-based spirits firm, will step down on 1 January 2018.

He joined Fortune Brands, the predecessor company to Beam Suntory, in 1987 and assumed his current position in 2001. Rose previously worked for New York-based corporate law firms Chadbourne & Parke and Day, Berry & Howard.

“For the past three decades, Kent has been instrumental to the development of Beam Suntory, be it providing practical advice on commercial and brand building priorities, protecting our legal interests in a highly regulated and litigious environment, guiding critical risk management initiatives, advancing global compliance, overseeing complex transactional work, or developing a best-in-class legal function,” said Matt Shattock, chairman and CEO of Beam Suntory.

“We are pleased we will continue to benefit from Kent’s experience and dedication through year end, and we are fortunate that he has built a deep bench of talent that will help ensure continuity.

“To that end, we are pleased that Kent will be succeeded by Todd Bloomquist, a skilled attorney and strong leader who has built an excellent track record of success since joining us in 2011.”

Bloomquist currently serves as Beam Suntory’s deputy general counsel and assistant secretary. Bloomquist previously spent 12 years at Winston & Straw, where he was elected partner in 2007.

In May last year, John Owen was named chief financial officer of Beam Suntory, at the same time as the group announced a new regional structure to target growth in Asia.