The
division will be overseen by Felipe Szpigel, a 15-year A-B InBev
veteran who most recently held a global role based in New York as
VP of trade marketing, including leading projects such as improving
draught technology. The memo stated that the brewer's high-end
marketing team, including Adam Oakley, who is VP-import, craft and
specialty brands, will "transition to Chicago over time." The
brewer did not yet have information on the exact address of the
office.
The establishment of the Chicago-based business unit
further establishes the Windy City as an American beer stronghold.
MillerCoors is
headquartered in Chicago, as is the beer division of Constellation
Brands, which imports Corona. The move also is in line with the
trend of marketers establishing urban offices. (See related
story.)
A-B InBev began building its Chicago presence in 2011
when it acquired craft brewer Goose Island, which operates just
west of downtown Chicago. The new business unit will include Goose
Island, as well as Blue Point Brewing Co., a New York-based craft
brewer that Anheuser-Busch InBev acquired earlier this year,
according to the memo, which noted that "we will add dedicated
sales resources within this unit to help build high-end brands in
the trade."
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McCarthy
exits Bud Light
In an unrelated move, the brewer also announced that Rob McCarthy,
the brand VP for Bud Light, will be leaving the company at the end
of the summer. He will be replaced by Alexander Lambrecht, who has
been with the brewer since 2005, including most recently as
director of premium and super premium brands in the Asia Pacific
region.
Mr.
McCarthy will remain with the brewer through Sept. 2, "to ensure a
smooth transition," U.S. VP-Marketing Jorn Socquet stated in an
internal memo, in which he thanked Mr. McCarthy for "his many
contributions."
The
leadership shift on Bud Light follows other significant changes
occurring under Mr. Socquet, who assumed the marketing VP role in
January. The brewer recently started a media agency review. Also,
Mr. Socquet recently elevated Lucas Herscovici, the former VP of
U.S. digital marketing, to a newly created role called VP-consumer
connections, which includes oversight of media, as well as digital
and sports marketing. Media had previously been overseen by Blaise
D'Sylva, who recently left the company.
