ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- North American Breweries, brewer of Labatt, Magic Hat, Pyramid, Seagram's Escapes and other beers, appointed Tom Cardella to its board of directors.
A well-known and established industry leader with 38 years of experience, Cardella brings a strong background with top global beer companies. He is most recently known for his role as CEO and president of Tenth and Blake Beer Co., an independent division of MillerCoors, where he managed and grew its craft beer, import beers and cider portfolio.
In this role, Cardella is credited for his success with Blue Moon Brewing Co, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co., Crispin Cider Co., AC Golden and Peroni USA. Prior to that, he held a number of executive-level positions with MillerCoors LLC., before retiring in 2015.
“Tom is a well-respected and established leader in the beer business. He has mentored some of the best people and developed some of the strongest brands in the business. He knows how to sell and market beer,” said Ramon Mendiola, CEO of Florida Ice & Farm Co., the parent company of North American Breweries. “In particular, he has made his mark in the craft-beer industry. Tom’s experience and knowledge will help guide our thinking, innovation and growth strategy for years to come.”
Kris Sirchio, CEO of North American Breweries, said the addition of Cardella will help the brewer continue to grow.
“In 2015, we exceeded our triple bottom line goals [that] balance profits with social impact and environmental stewardship," he said. "Our focus on people, planet and profit is differentiating and with Tom’s experience and knowledge, we will take our business to the next level. We’re excited to have him join our board that is now comprised of some of the most experienced and reputable professionals in the beer industry.”
On the board, Cardella joins John Nicolson, former president of Heineken Americas; Richard Strup, retired senior vice president of Miller Brewing Co.; Rolando Carvajal, regional director for food & beverages of Florida Ice & Farm Co.; Ramon Mendiola, CEO of Florida Ice & Farm Co.; Carlos Rojas, CFO of Florida Ice & Farm Co.; and Kris Sirchio, CEO of North American Breweries.
“I’ve spent most of my career in beer, and without a doubt this is one of the most exciting times for the industry," Cardella said. North American Breweries, because of its size, brand portfolio and business philosophy, is uniquely positioned to grow. They are small enough, yet, big enough to innovate and hit the market fast. They have a strong leadership team and great bench depth with its board of directors. I am excited to be part of it.”
Based in Rochester, N.Y., North American Breweries is one of the largest beer companies in the United States. NAB brews, packages, imports, markets and sells its branded product portfolio through an independent network of wholesalers throughout the United States. Its brands include Labatt, Genesee, Seagram’s Escapes, Magic Hat, Pyramid, the Original Honey Brown Lager, Dundee Ales & Lagers and Portland Brewing.
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