6 Beverage-Company Leadership Changes
By Steve Holtz on Jul. 28, 2017CHICAGO -- From big beer brands to niche sodas and waters, here are a half-dozen manufacturers that named new executives in recent weeks …
1. Anheuser-Busch
Cesar Vargas will join Anheuser-Busch InBev as its North America Zone vice president of legal and corporate affairs effective Sept. 1. In this role, Cesar will join the company’s management committee and report to CEO Joao Castro Neves.
Vargas will succeed John Blood, who was promoted in April to the Belgium-based company’s executive board of management as general counsel and company secretary.
Vargas joins AB InBev from consulting firm Goddard Gunster, where he was a senior adviser. He has spent more than 20 years developing and executing public affairs strategies worldwide on behalf of Fortune 100 companies including Philip Morris, Miller Brewing Co. and Kraft Foods.
In his new role, Vargas will oversee legal, communications, federal and state government affairs, community affairs, and corporate social responsibility in the United States and Canada.
2. Reed’s
Craft soda maker Reed’s Inc. named Val Stalowir as its chief executive officer three months after founder and former CEO Chris Reed abruptly resigned. Stalowir will also serve on the company’s board of directors. Reed also remains on the board.
A 25-year veteran of the food and beverage industry, Stalowir has helped steer the growth and development of Quaker Oats, Coca-Cola Co. and Yum! Brands, in addition to emerging consumer brands such as Boylan Bottling, Detour Bar and Zola Acai.
Also at Reed’s, Stefan Freeman, who has been on the board of directors since late last year and had served as interim CEO since April, will continue with the company in the role of chief operating officer.
Los Angeles-based Reed’s makes Reed’s Ginger Beer and Virgil’s Root Beer, as wells as several small soda brands.
3. Protein2o
Two former Gatorade executives have joined the leadership team of Protein2o, a protein-infused-water brand.
Sue Wellington has joined the Chicago-based brand as chairman of the board. Wellington was president of Gatorade from 1997 through 2002.
And Andy Horrow is now president of Protein2o. Horrow worked for PepsiCo for 13 years, including leading the Gatorade and Trop 50 brands. Horrow also worked as chief marketing officer for Mike’s Hard Lemonade and is a founding partner in Wholesome Tea, makers of Inko’s and Blue Buddha organic tea.
“It’s a big statement of our business momentum and potential that we got Sue and Andy to get excited about joining the leadership of Protein2o,” said Bob Kral, CEO and founder of Protein2o.
4. Harvest Hill Beverage Co.
Harvest Hill Beverage Co., Stamford, Conn., promoted David Champlin to president of sales. Harvest Hill is the manufacturer and marketer of Juicy Juice, SunnyD, Little Hug, Daily's Cocktails, Veryfine, Fruit2O and Nutrament brands.
Champlin will report to John LeBoutillier, the company's president and CEO. He has worked in sales at Harvest Hill for three years. He previously spent 12 years at Nestle Waters North America, as well as Mott's LLP and Veryfine Products Inc. He will oversee Harvest Hill's selling organization, which consists of more than 40 people, and will be responsible for global sales efforts across all channels.
The company also promoted Bean Kingsbury to executive vice president. She will be responsible for Harvest Hill's national accounts.
5. Carela Foods
Carela Foods, maker of Bitter Melon Tea, has added three industry veterans to its strategic operational advisory board.
Bill Sipper of Cascadia Managing Brands was brought in to develop the brand marketing, while Andy Stallone of SAS Sales and Marketing will focus on growing sales and distribution. Renee Whitworth of Flood Creative will create the brand’s visual and verbal positioning in relation to branding, packaging and design.
Miami-based Carela will roll out its brand narrative later this year. Backed by clinical studies of Careala, Bitter Melon Tea helps calm the effects of sugar, according to the company. Bitter Melon, with the phytoconstituent called charantin, has been widely consumed for centuries around the world as a natural sugar-busting ingredient and is now available in the United States in Carela’s ready-to-drink and traditional loose tea, which can be cold-brewed, the company said.
6. Zico
Mark Rampolla, the founder of Zico Coconut Water, has joined Beanfields Snacks as chief executive officer. Rampolla created the brand in 2004, helping create the coconut-water category in the United States. He sold the brand to Coca-Cola Co. in 2013. He now hopes to give the better-for-you snack category the same boost he gave to coconut water.
The snack brand, based in Los Angeles, “is in a very similar state as Zico was when it really started to take off,” he told Food Navigator.