Campari CEO Kunze-Concewitz to retire

After 16 years as Campari Group’s CEO, Bob Kunze-Concewitz will retire in April 2024 when Matteo Fantacchiotti will take the helm.

Italian firm Campari Group, owner of Aperol and Skyy Vodka, said Kunze-Concewitz would leave the company to ‘pursue his personal passions’.

Fantacchiotti, Campari’s managing director for Asia Pacific, will take over as CEO next year.

Effectively immediately, Fantacchiotti has been appointed deputy CEO to ensure a ‘smooth handover’.

Kunze-Concewitz has worked for Campari Group for 18 years, initially joining the firm as group marketing director before becoming CEO in May 2007.

Campari said Kunze-Concewitz has helped to grow the company by approximately three times its size in net sales and profit.

During his time at the helm of the company, he has overseen 17 acquisitions since 2007, totalling an investment of €3 billion (US$3.2bn).

Campari said the outgoing CEO’s long-term vision also contributed to Aperol increasing its net sales 12 times since he joined the firm. It is now the group’s biggest brand.

Espolòn has also become one of the leading and fastest-growing premium Tequila brands in the US under Kunze-Concewitz’s leadership, the firm said.

Furthermore, the group’s international footprint has quadrupled to 25 in-market direct companies in the last 16 years, accounting for approximately 93% of sales, and expanded from nine to 23 production facilities across the world.

Kunze-Concewitz said it had been an “incredible honour” to lead Campari Group.

“I have said many times that this company is made of brands and people: we now have a portfolio made of some of the most admired brands in the spirits industry, taken care of by an amazing group of professionals worldwide,” he continued.

“The very strong health of our brands and our robust organisation now allow me to retire to pursue my personal passions and enjoy family life to the fullest.”

Following his retirement, the board hopes to appoint Kunze-Concewitz as a non-executive director.

New CEO

Kunze-Concewitz’s successor, Fantacchiotti, has previously worked for Carlsberg, Nestlé Waters, and Diageo in roles in the global luxury division.

“I am very happy to pass the baton to Matteo, a top manager whom I personally recruited and who already contributed significantly to Campari, thanks to his leadership capabilities and deep expertise of the spirits industry, particularly in the super-premium end,” Kunze-Concewitz said.

Fantacchiotti joined Campari Group in January 2020 to lead Asia Pacific, helping to enhance the firm’s route to market in the region and establish a regional hub in Singapore.

Fantacchiotti added: “I feel honoured and proud about the appointment. Bob leaves Campari Group in a phenomenal position.

“The impressive achievements of the group under Bob’s visionary leadership are an inspiration for me to continue on this journey, building on our proven growth strategy, in continuity with the past, combining a strong brand building with value-enhancing acquisitions.

“Campari Group is today a very strong organisation, built on world-class infrastructure, powerful brands and talented Camparistas.

“I look forward to continuing working with Campari Group’s management team which I will have the privilege to lead and with whom we will take our company to the next phase of its transformational growth journey.”

Kunze-Concewitz’s departure is one of a number of recent CEO changes for the world’s biggest spirits firms.

Beam Suntory president and CEO Albert Baladi will step down in October this year, while Debra Crew took on the top position at Diageo after Ivan Menezes’ death in June.