Constellation Brands Inc., the importer of Corona and Modelo beers, among other alcohol drinks, said that Robert Hanson is stepping down as executive vice president and president of the company’s wine and spirits division. Hanson joined the company in 2019 and will step down on Feb. 29 in a “mutually agreed” decision, according to the company.
The New York-based company has begun seeking a successor. Bill Newlands, company president and CEO, will oversee the division until a replacement is found.
“Robert has been instrumental in leading the charge to reposition our wine & spirits business to a higher-end portfolio of brands more aligned with consumer trends, with an expanded focus to include global, omni-channel distribution, with more robust and targeted international and direct-to-consumer sales channels,” said Newlands.
Under Hanson’s leadership, the company’s wine and spirits division has “significantly reshaped” its brand portfolio through a series of divestitures of lower-end brands, several tuck-in acquisitions of higher-end fine wine and craft spirits brands, the company said.
Hanson, who also served on the company’s board of directors from 2013 to 2019, said that with the “strategic, operational and capability transformation of the company’s wine and spirits business in place, this is the right time for me to transition leadership and to step down from my role with the company and pursue my future career goals.”
On Jan. 5, the company reported its third-quarter fiscal 2024 results, which saw its beer business perform solid net sales growth primarily driven by continued momentum of the Modelo brand family.
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