Beam Suntory names US chief commercial officer

Maker’s Mark owner Beam Suntory has promoted Dave Turo to the role of chief commercial officer for the US, taking over from Carlo Coppola.

Turo most recently served as Beam Suntory’s regional general manger, east geographic business unit, which represents the largest region in the US.

Effective from 1 July, Turo will become chief commercial officer for the group’s largest market, while Coppola will take on the role of managing director of the James B Beam Distilling Co brand house.

Turo, who joined Beam Suntory in 2006, brings more than 25 years of commercial and marketing experience to this role.

Turo will be responsible for managing profit and loss (P&L) for Beam Suntory’s US commercial business, including managing distributor and customer relationships and delivering ‘sustainable, profitable growth’ within the market.

“The US has an outsized impact on Beam Suntory’s business, and it requires a skilled leader at the helm,” said Greg Hughes, president, North America.

“Throughout his 16-year tenure with the business, Dave’s experience across our marketing and commercial organisations has instilled depth and breadth of knowledge about our business that made him the right choice to lead our US team.”

Prior to joining Beam Suntory, Turo held marketing and business development roles across Allied Domecq and The Coca-Cola Company.

Coppola is a 15-year veteran of Beam Suntory. As chief commercial officer, he helped the US arm deliver ‘strong results’, with robust growth at the premium end of the portfolio, Beam Suntory said.

In his new role, Coppola will oversee long-term plans for the Beam family of brands, including Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and Booker’s Bourbons. He will also manage end-to-end P&L, as well as marketing, pricing and liquid allocation.

As managing director of Beam Suntory’s largest brand, Jim Beam, Coppola’s role also includes the global marketing and long-term planning for the brand house, as well as the new site.

The Fred B Noe Distillery was opened in Kentucky in September last year. It was part of Beam Suntory’s US$60 million investment to bring back the James B Beam Distilling Co in Clermont.

Last month, the James B Beam Distilling Company appointed Freddie Noe as the eighth-generation master distiller of the Fred B Noe Distillery.

“Beam Suntory is building global brands that consumers love, and our brand house managing directors play a critical role in that journey,” said Jessica Spence, president of brands at Beam Suntory.

“As the James B Beam Distilling Co strengthens its leadership in American whiskey, I’m thrilled that we have such strong, experienced and innovative leader taking the helm.”

Coppola will be based in New York City and will report to Spence.

New appointments

In addition, Beam Suntory has hired Regan O’Kon as vice-president of on-premise in the US. O’Kon returns to Beam Suntory after nine years with Campari America and will be responsible for driving Beam Suntory’s mid- and long-term growth strategies for the on-trade.

The company also recently named Zsoka McDonald as chief communications officer and promoted Brett Hale to the role of chief public affairs officer. The appointments support Beam Suntory’s premiumisation strategy.

McDonald, who has held several communications roles at Diageo over a 15-year period, joins Beam Suntory in the newly-created position. She will lead all global internal, external and sustainability communications as well as brand PR for the company.

Hale has headed up public affairs for the company since joining Beam Suntory in 2016. The expanded role means Hale will also advise Japanese parent company Suntory Holdings on geopolitical and market-access issues.