Beam poaches Coke chief to spearhead global drive

Beam Global Spirits & Wines (BGSW) has poached Coca-Cola GB senior brand manager Paula Jordan to the new position of marketing director, international. It is also seeking to appoint a second marketer to a similar international role.

The new roles are part of a restructure of the company’s international marketing team, which is based in London. The two international marketing roles will work alongside each other and both will report to Nick Garland, BGSW’s vice-president of marketing, international.

It is unclear exactly what the responsibilities for the new roles are, and whether the two international marketing directors will take control of a portfolio of brands, or whether it will be divided on a territorial basis.

BGSW was known as Jim Beam Global Brands until last year when it acquired a portfolio of brands from Pernod Ricard, after the French company’s £7.4bn purchase of Allied Domecq. Pernod Ricard sold Canadian Club, Courvoisier cognac, Maker’s Mark and Sauza spirits to BGSW’s parent company, Fortune Brands. Pernod retained the remainder of Allied’s brands.

A year ago, Beth Bronner, then global chief marketing officer for BGSW, announced a restructure of its marketing team to reflect the increased importance of non-US brands to its business (MW May 4 , 2006). She left the company suddenly in July 2006 without a job to go to.

In January, the company appointed Rory Finlay to replace Bronner as senior vice-president and global chief marketing officer. Finlay joined from Wm Wrigley Jr, where he was vice-president and managing director of new confectionery brands.