Ex-Suntory president to become Constellation CEO
Casa Noble Tequila owner Constellation Brands has appointed former Suntory Global Spirits executive Nicholas Fink as its president and CEO.
Fink has been a member of Constellation’s board of directors since 2021. He will take over the CEO and president position from Bill Newlands on 13 April 2025.
Newlands will retire from the US firm in April after holding the CEO position since 2019. He joined Constellation Brands in 2015.
“Over the past several years, Constellation Brands’ board of directors has engaged in a thoughtful and comprehensive CEO succession planning process, and we are excited to welcome Nick as our next president and CEO,” said board chair Chris Baldwin.
“Nick has a diversified set of leadership experiences and is an accomplished beverage alcohol executive with a deep understanding of Constellation’s business model, having served as a member of the company’s board for the past five years.
“Nick will bring a unique perspective and capabilities that will benefit Constellation and its stakeholders as we position the company for long-term success in a rapidly evolving and hyper-competitive environment.”
Fink has been the CEO of Fortune Brands Innovations, a global home, security, and digital products company, since January 2020.
Before that, he held a number of senior leadership roles at Suntory Global Spirits over nine years, including responsibilities as president for Asia Pacific and South America, and senior vice-president, chief strategy officer.
“I’ve long admired Constellation’s ability to build iconic brands that resonate strongly with consumers,” Fink commented.
“I look forward to getting out into the market, engaging with team members and industry partners across the business, and working with the Constellation team to further build on the company’s core strengths, which include building great brands and leveraging innovation to satisfy more consumer occasions, while developing new growth platforms that meet the evolving needs of consumers as the landscape continues to shift within the beverage alcohol sector.”
Newlands will serve as a strategic adviser over the next few months to help with the CEO transition.
“As I’ve consistently said throughout the years, we have the best team in the business, a strong portfolio of brands people love, a consumer-obsessed focus on innovation, and a strong leadership team focused on delivering what’s next,” Newlands added.
“I look forward to working with Nick in the coming months to help ensure a smooth transition, and I’m excited to see what the team achieves in the years ahead under Nick’s leadership.”
Baldwin also thanked Newlands for “reshaping” Constellation’s wine and spirits portfolio, which offers a “powerful collection of higher-end, higher-margin brands aligned with consumer trends”.
Constellation’s portfolio includes High West Whiskey, Mi Campo Tequila, beer brands Corona Extra and Modelo Especial, and wine brands such as The Prisoner Wine Company and Robert Mondavi.
Last year, the group sold Svedka Vodka to Sazerac, offloaded brandy producer Copper & Kings, and divested most of its mainstream wine brands.
Constellation Brands recently reported a 51% decline in wine and spirits sales for its third quarter (September to November 2025).
Related news
Constellation Brands executive vice-president retires
