“My passion was always in whisky, as a Scot it’s in my blood. Keen to get a foothold in the industry, I started off as a tour guide in Auchentoshan Distillery in 2011. I spent my days taking whisky lovers around the distillery, teaching them about whisky production and the history of the distillery. I loved it and was lucky enough to move into a variety of commercial roles within Beam Suntory, which has led me to a senior role in Travel Retail. 

Coming from working in pubs in 2010 to looking after 30% of the total GTR business has been an amazing journey but one that brought on moments of self-doubt which I think stems from my struggle with anxiety from an early age. I would always appear confident and polished in work even when I didn’t feel that way at home.  About five years ago, I started to have a tough time with my mental health. After trying to navigate things on my own, I finally decided to open up to my manager, Simon, about what was going on. His supportive and non-judgmental response gave me the confidence to be honest with myself and open up to my peers as well. 

That’s when I realized people’s reactions weren’t as scary as I thought they were going to be, and people were very supportive. I became an ally for my colleagues who might be going through something similar. I think by creating an open dialogue, we can create a common language and normalize discussing mental health at work. I’m now an advocate to my friends, colleagues, and neighbors. It's something I'm hugely passionate about. The more you talk about it, the less scary it becomes.

For anyone who’s struggling: Find people who you can confide in and use the resources we have at Beam Suntory.  It can feel scary but there are professionals who can help and colleagues who care about you more than you know. As I continue my own journey, I want to become a stronger ally and pass on the knowledge I’ve gained from my eleven years and counting at Beam Suntory, including navigating challenges with mental health.”

-    Alasdair (Ally) Dickinson, Key Accounts Director, United Kingdom

Chicago, 18 July, Beam Suntory, along with Edrington, has reached an agreement to sell the Maxxium Russia joint venture business to the local management team. After suspending shipments to Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in early March, we began reviewing approaches to the future of the Russia business.
 
We determined that the best way to exit the market was through a sale of the Russia joint venture to the local management team, and we wish our respected former colleagues the best with the future direction of the company.
 
Shipments from Beam Suntory will remain suspended as we continue to abide by all applicable laws including international sanctions. 

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By Lisa Bertagnoli

With concern mounting about climbing global temperatures, companies are devoting considerable resources to the "E"—environmental—of ESG. These executives across the Chicago area lead their organizations' efforts to keep climate change in check, including planning and implementing actions as well as recording and reporting data to stakeholders of all kinds. Among their strategies: diverting tons of material from landfills; establishing neighborhood-level power grids that integrate renewable energy; assessing the climate risk of real estate portfolios; creating green investment funds; working toward decarbonization through the construction of all-electric multifamily housing or reducing the embodied carbon in concrete; and countering the environmental impact of factory farming. Their work—fingers crossed—will help make Earth a livable place for generations to come.

Kim Marotta oversees the company's long-term environmental commitments, which are anchored in reducing its water, climate, forest, biodiversity and packaging footprints while establishing a positive societal impact. Key goals include surpassing net zero emissions across the entire value chain, 100% watershed replenishment, working only with suppliers that use sustainable practices and using 60% recycled materials by weight across the packaging portfolio. In partnership with Suntory Holdings, Marotta's team has developed carbon emission reduction targets that align with the Paris Climate Accord and have been verified against the 1.5-degree Celsius pathway set forth by the Science Based Target Initiative. The company is also implementing regenerative agriculture practices with Kentucky corn growers, European barley farmers and Tequila agave growers.  

Millar returns to the UK to lead a Brand House focused on sustainability and premiumization
 
CHICAGO, July 7th, 2022 – Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits, has named Robbie Millar Managing Director of the Scotch & Irish Brand House, overseeing a brand portfolio that includes Laphroaig®, Bowmore®, Auchentoshan® and Kilbeggan®. 
 
“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. “Robbie is an exceptional, commercially astute leader who will steer, alongside a superb team, our Scotch and Irish Brand House into an ever-stronger position. More sustainable and more premium and always, always with our consumers and customers at the heart of our plans.” 
 
Millar is an experienced leader with a 20-year career in the premium spirits and beer industry and a track record for building global brands. He joins from Carlsberg, where he served as VP Global Marketing, managing the company’s two largest brands – Carlsberg and Tuborg. 
 
Prior to Carlsberg, Millar served as Global Director, Category Development for SAB Miller, Senior Partner and Managing Director for Kantar Consulting, and Managing Director for Compass Box Whisky. 
 
“The remit I have here at Beam Suntory in leading this amazing house is hugely exciting and I recognise the responsibility it comes with,” said Millar “I am a custodian of iconic Scotch & Irish whiskies and have a duty to build these brands for the benefit of all our people, consumers, customers and the local communities in which we operate. Underpinning all our work - fuelling our continued success - will be a deep belief in craft, quality and sustainability.”
 
Millar’s appointment further strengthens the company’s Brand House leadership, which includes end-to-end P&L management.  Earlier this month, Beam Suntory announced the appointment of company veteran Carlo Coppola to Managing Director of the James B. Beam Distilling Co. Brand House. 
 
Millar, a native of Scotland, will be relocating to the United Kingdom for the role. He will spend the majority of his time directly in Scotland to be close to Beam Suntory’s brand heritage and build relationships with the wider whisky community and trade.  
 
Millar will report to Spence.
 
About Beam Suntory
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark® bourbon brands and Courvoisier® cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, and Legent™ bourbon; Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™ Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore® Scotch whisky; Canadian Club® whisky; Hornitos® and Sauza® tequila; EFFEN®, Haku® and Pinnacle® vodka; Sipsmith® and Roku™ gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails. 
 
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good, which now includes its transformative sustainability strategy, Proof Positive. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com. 
 

“Growing up, I watched my grandmother build several local businesses and restaurants in Mérida, Spain, from the ground up. I adopted a lot of my core values from her and learned the importance of surrounding yourself with people, especially those who will support you. 

I started my career in Chemistry, and at times it was isolating. It felt like something was missing. When I reflected on the values my grandmother instilled in me, I realized my desire to connect with people wasn’t being fulfilled. That’s when I decided to go back to school and get my master’s in Business Administration and Organizational Management. After completing the program, I began my journey in the world of Human Resources (HR). 

I now feel fulfilled with my role in HR because I get to connect with the global Beam Suntory team and help build the culture in the Madrid office while providing solutions for recruitment, including hiring diverse talent. When I first got to Beam Suntory, we didn’t have a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) team in the international region. So, we created one and I stepped up as leader of the LGBTQ+ workstream. It became a passion project of mine as I feel diversity is a key pillar in every organization. 

Since I began working within the HR DEI space, we’ve seen so much more diversity in the international region in terms of race, gender, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and candidates with different backgrounds in general. A future goal of mine is to help grow a more inclusive culture across our global regions -- it’s important not to limit change. 
One of the many phrases that I live by is ‘Sin Limites’ which means no limits or boundaries. It’s a saying that reminds me of my grandmother, who knew what she wanted and didn’t limit herself when it came to building her life and businesses. This saying adds value to my life every day and allows me to embrace and build my future without limits.”

-    Luis Alfonso Dugarte Rangel, Talent Acquisition Lead EMEA, Madrid, Spain

Turo is a 16-year veteran of Beam Suntory who most recently led the U.S. East region 

CHICAGO, June 29, 2022 – Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits, has named Dave Turo as U.S. Chief Commercial Officer. Turo will be responsible for managing the P&L for Beam Suntory’s U.S. commercial business, including managing distributor and customer relationships and delivering sustainable, profitable growth within the U.S. – the company’s largest market globally. Turo will continue the company’s sharp focus on premiumization, which has been key to Beam Suntory’s recent performance in the U.S. market. 

“The U.S. 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 organizations has instilled depth and breadth of knowledge about our business that made him the right choice to lead our U.S. team.” 

Turo brings more than 25 years of commercial and marketing experience to this role. He has held positions of increasing responsibility since joining Beam Suntory in 2006, first joining as Marketing Director for the West Coast Division. Since that time, Turo has held additional roles in marketing and commercial, including time as Divisional VP in Mexico, and most recently serving as Regional General Manger, East Geographic Business Unit, which represents the largest region in the U.S. Prior to joining Beam Suntory, he held marketing and business development roles across Allied Domecq and The Coca-Cola Company.

To further support the U.S. business, Beam Suntory also announced Regan O’Kon as VP, On Premise. O’Kon returns to Beam Suntory after nine years with Campari America and will be responsible for driving Beam Suntory’s on-premise mid- and long-term growth strategies.

Turo succeeds Carlo Coppola, who has been named Managing Director, James B. Beam Distilling Co. Brand House. Turo’s appointment is effective July 1, and he will report to Hughes. O’Kon will report to Turo upon his promotion.

 

About Beam Suntory
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark® bourbon brands and Courvoisier® cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, and Legent™ bourbon; Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™ Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore® Scotch whisky; Canadian Club® whisky; Hornitos® and Sauza® tequila; EFFEN®, Haku® and Pinnacle® vodka; Sipsmith® and Roku™ gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails. 

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good, which now includes its transformative sustainability strategy, Proof Positive. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com. 

 ©2022 Beam Suntory, Inc. Chicago, IL.