Pernod Ricard USA today announced several key management appointments in its Wines and Champagnes division, which is aiming to become a leading player in the U.S. market.
Jeff Agdern, an experienced Pernod Ricard USA marketer who most recently served as Vice President, Wine and Spirits Marketing at Pernod Ricard’s Canadian sister company, Corby Spirit and Wine Limited, has returned to the U.S. as Senior Vice President, Wines and Champagnes. Jeff reports to Bryan Fry, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pernod Ricard USA, and serves on the company’s Executive Committee.
Mike Hermann, the leader of one of Pernod Ricard USA’s key spirits business units and a 20+ year industry veteran with extensive management experience at distributors and suppliers representing wine, spirits and beer, has been named Vice President, Sales, Wines and Champagnes, effective January 1, 2014 and reporting to Jeff.
Jo Adamo, an accomplished international marketer who is currently Marketing Director for Media Strategy and Premium Wines at Pernod Ricard Winemakers, has been named VP, Marketing, Wines and Champagnes, effective January 27, 2014 and reporting to Jeff.
Bryan said the appointments signal Pernod Ricard USA’s ambition to significantly expand its wines and champagne business over the next five years. “We’ve got a premium portfolio of wines and champagnes, supported by our powerful route to market”, he said. “Now we’ve added a dedicated U.S. management team focused on building our brands and driving innovations to meet consumer needs.”
Jeff replaces Stephen O’Neill, who led Pernod Ricard USA Wines and Champagnes to solid growth while serving as its interim General Manager over the past year. Stephen continues in his role as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Transformation, Pernod Ricard USA, reporting to Bryan. Mike will assume a newly created national Sales role, and Jo replaces Frank Polley, who recently was named Vice President, Spirits Trade Marketing.
Bryan said Pernod Ricard USA’s growth plans include further leveraging the strength of its champagne and sparkling portfolio, which includes Perrier-Jouet and G.H. Mumm Champagnes and Mumm Napa Sparkling; increasing investment in its core brands, particularly Brancott Estate, Graffigna and Campo Viejo; repositioning Jacob’s Creek; continuing to build Deadbolt, Pernod Ricard USA’s first California still wine; and driving an aggressive innovation agenda.
Said Jeff: “I am thrilled about the opportunity to lead Pernod Ricard USA Wines and Champagnes and our ambitious plan for growth. Consumer trends favoring premium brands — coupled with our demonstrated ability to drive innovation and our overall commitment to the wine business — position us well for strong, sustainable performance.”
Executive Bios
Jeff Agdern, Senior Vice President, Pernod Ricard USA Wines and Champagnes, returns to Pernod Ricard USA from Corby Spirit and Wine Limited, where, as Vice President, Wine and Spirits Marketing, he expanded and accelerated the company’s innovation process, resulting in a 300 percent increase in volume from new product introductions over the past two years. Jeff and his team at Corby managed the launch of Jacob’s Creek Moscato — which is now the top-selling Moscato wine in Canada – – and doubled the sales of Jacob’s Creek Reserve wines. In addition, Jeff and his team increased the market share of Wiser’s, Canada’s best-selling whiskey, partly through the successful launch of Wiser’s Spiced. He also led the introduction of two premium small-batch Canadian whiskies: Pike Creek and “Lot 40”. Prior to joining Corby in 2010, Jeff held various positions at Pernod Ricard USA, including two lengthy stints managing Jameson’s Irish Whiskey, one of the fastest-growing beverage alcohol brands in the U.S. He served as Marketing Vice President for Whiskey, Gin and Cognac from 2008 until 2010; Marketing Vice President for Rum and Cordials from 2006 until 2008; Group Director, Irish and Single Malt Scotch from 2002 until 2005; and Senior Brand Manager for Irish Whiskey from 1999 until 2001. Before joining Pernod Ricard USA in 1999, Jeff held positions with Sidney Frank Importing Co., Inc., and CCM Marketing & Promotions.
Mike Hermann, the soon to be Vice President, Sales, Pernod Ricard USA Wines and Champagnes, has driven steady sales growth in the Pernod Ricard USA business unit responsible for spirits sales in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. He assumed that position in 2009 after joining Pernod Ricard USA from the Glazer’s Family of Companies, where he served as On-Premise Sales Director, based in Chicago. Mike started his career at Premier Beverage Company as a sales representative, and worked his way into an On-Premise Field Sales Manager role responsible for a portfolio of wine, spirits, and beer brands. He then spent more than seven years with E&J Gallo Winery, first as a Field Marketing Manager, then as a Division Manager and later as an On-Premise Regional Sales Director. Mike subsequently worked as the On-Premise General Sales Manager at Johnson Bros. Liquor Co. in Chicago, where his responsibilities included that firm’s Fine Wine retail division.
Jo Adamo, the soon to be Vice President, Marketing, Pernod USA Wines and Champagnes, launched her career at F H Faulding & Co. in Australia, where she developed marketing and sales plans for such global consumer health and beauty brands as Neutrogena and Banana Boat. Jo joined Pernod Ricard in 1997 as the Global and Domestic Marketing Manager for Jacob’s Creek. Jo subsequently held a series of progressively responsible marketing roles for Pernod Ricard in both the UK and Australia, and in 2005 was named General Manager – Marketing, Pernod Ricard Australia, where she led a 25-person wine and spirits marketing team. She then served as that company’s General Manager – Trade Development before being appointed Global Brand Director for Jacob’s Creek. In 2010, Jo became Global Marketing Director, Orlando Wines, responsible for managing the global brand and visitation teams.
Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA, which employs more than 18,000 people worldwide and is listed on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI).
The company’s leading spirits and wines include such prestigious brands as Absolut® Vodka, Chivas Regal® Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Malibu®, Kahlúa® Liqueur, Beefeater® Gin, Plymouth™ Gin, Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin®, Martell® Cognac, Hiram Walker® Liqueurs, Pernod®, Ricard® and Avión™ Tequila (through a joint venture with Tequila Avión); such superior wines as Brancott Estate®, Campo Viejo®, Deadbolt®, Graffigna ®and Jacob’s Creek®, and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouët® Champagne, G.H. Mumm™ Champagne and Mumm Napa® sparkling wines.
Pernod Ricard USA is based in New York, New York, and has roughly 850 employees across the country. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active campaign to promote responsible drinking. For more information on this, please visit: www.acceptresponsibility.org.
