WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Heineken USA has announced two executive appointments within the organization's sales leadership team, which will help enhance the company's support of its wholesaler and retailer networks. Effective immediately, Steve Ward will serve as vice president of national accounts, and John Kennedy will assume the role of vice president for sales strategy and channel activation.
"Both Steve and John have made significant contributions to Heineken USA throughout their careers here and I am delighted to appoint them to these two strategic leadership positions within our sales [image-nocss] organization," said Chris Steffanci, senior vice president of sales for Heineken USA.
In his new role, Ward will lead both the national accounts and category management functions for the company, developing greater synergies between their activities, delivering strategic guidelines to lead his teams' activities and ensuring the delivery of programming and resources that support the company's customers.
Most recently, Ward served as the vice president of sales strategy and channel activation, where he led the development of customized regional and channel-specific marketing programs, tools and solutions to help retailers and distributors create better experiences for their consumers. Ward began his career at Heineken USA as a consultant before being hired in 2005 to lead the company's sales strategies for its national on-premise accounts. Earlier in his career, Ward held various sales and marketing positions with Labatt USA and Bass Brewers.
With this appointment, Kennedy brings his extensive experience in the beverage alcohol industry and the global Heineken organization to the role previously held by Ward. In 2006, after spending the previous eight years at Heineken NV and Heineken Canada, he joined Heineken USA as the CCM business development director to help build the partnership between Heineken USA and FEMSA through their initial three-year agreement. In this role, Kennedy was key in the development of the strategy and partnership that resulted in the company's success with the FEMSA brands and the extension of the agreement in 2007 for an additional 10 years. Most recently, Kennedy has been responsible for leading the preparation for the acquisition of the importation rights for Newcastle Brown Ale by Heineken USA, which the company will assume on September 1.
Heineken USA also announced today the departure of Tom Fahey, regional vice president of the Southeast regional business unit, effective August 22. After five relocations over his 20-year career at Heineken USA, Tom elected not to relocate within the organization. Fahey contributed significantly to the growth of the company throughout his career as he held increasingly senior sales leadership positions from district manager to national accounts manager to zone director to southeast regional vice president, a position he has held since January 2001. Fahey's successor has not yet been named.
Heineken USA Inc., White Plains, N.Y., a major beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International BV. Brands imported into the United States include Heineken Lager, Heineken Premium Light, Amstel Light, Heineken Dark and Buckler, a non-alcoholic brew. Heineken USA is also the exclusive USA importer for the Tecate, Tecate Light, Dos Equis, Sol, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from FEMSA Cerveza of Mexico.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.