Seagram lures MasterCard boss to head spirits division

Seagram Spirits & Wine has poached its new global marketing chief from MasterCard International.

Joseph Tripodi will take up the position of chief marketing officer at Seagram, after it was created in a company restructure last year. He will oversee the global marketing organisation for brands such as Chivas Regal, Glenlivet, Martell, Mumm and Captain Morgan Rum, from April 5.

Tripodi joins after ten years with MasterCard, where he was most recently executive vice-president of global marketing. From 1991 to 1993 he was based in Paris as senior vice-president of marketing for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining MasterCard, Tripodi worked for the Mobil Oil Corporation from 1981 to 1988.

Steven Kalagher, Seagram’s president and chief executive for the spirits and wine group, says: “Tripodi brings valuable consumer insight and proven leadership skills to our spirits and wine business. His ability to deliver flexible global marketing programmes will be a significant asset to Seagram as we continue to drive towards leadership in those categories and markets in which we choose to compete.”