Claudia Schubert, Diageo’s NA President + COO Named Industry Executive of the Year

Diageo announced this week that Claudia Schubert, North America President, and Chief Operating Officer, has received the “Industry Executive of the Year” award. The award was bestowed by Market Watch /Shanken Communications and is one of the highest awards in U.S. wine and spirits which is voted on by industry peers.

Claudia is the first woman to win this award and joins a list of past recipients that includes some of the biggest names in beverage alcohol. The inaugural executive to receive the same award 16 years ago was Diageo’s beloved late global CEO, Ivan Menezes.

Market Watch states:

“With more than 20 years in the drinks industry, Claudia has held a series of leadership roles at Diageo both in the U.S. and internationally, overseeing growth for a formidable portfolio of brands including Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, and Don Julio among many others. Today, she is at the top echelon of management for Diageo’s North American sector.”

Recipient Claudia Schubert, says:

“As the first female recipient of this award I am proud to be a part of how this industry has evolved. Market Watch’s recognition is also a recognition of our entire Diageo North America team, and our unrelenting support of advancing the industry. I am infinitely proud of the work we do at Diageo, and the work the industry is doing as a whole to be more inclusive, sustainable and committed to responsibility. Together we can continue to do so much more to raise the bar for the future.”

Diageo appoints Debra Crew as its first female CEO

British multinational premium drinks giant Diageo has just appointed Debra Crew as CEO, one of few women to lead a FTSE 100 company.

Diageo announced that Sir Ivan Menezes would step down on June 30th after 10 years as chief executive and is promoting its current chief operating officer Debra Crew to chief executive officer effective 1 July 2023.

The company employs 28,000 people globally and sells over 200 brands in more than 180 markets. It is also the largest company, by net sales value, in scotch and Canadian whisky, vodka, gin, rum, liquors and tequila.

Only eight of the UK’s top 100 listed companies have a female chief executive, which include: Dame Alison Rose at NatWest, Amanda Blanc at Aviva, Dame Emma Walmsley at GSK, Jette Nygaard-Andersen at Entain, Liv Garfield at Severn Trent, Jennie Daly at Taylor Wimpey, Margherita Della Valle at Vodafone – who is interim chief executive – and Milena Mondini de Focatiis at Admiral.

Before being appointed chief operating officer in October 2022, Crew ran Diageo’s business in North America, its largest market. She joined the company in 2019 and previously headed the tobacco firm Reynolds American until it was acquired by BAT. Before that, she spent five years at PepsiCo and worked at Kraft Foods, Nestlé and Mars.

 

Women for WineSense Host “Connect Symposium”

This Thursday, February 9, 2023 between 4:00 – 6:00 p.m, the Napa/Sonoma chapter of Women for WineSense will host a “Connect Symposium” at Charles Krug Winery [with online members-only additional livestream.]

The event will include attendees from wineries, vineyards, and other industry members.  The reception will be followed by a presentation featuring proprietary consumer research insights and commentary from the Wine Market Council (WMC) President, Dale Stratton, about “Understanding the Ever-Evolving Wine Consumer.”

The proliferation of choice across the Beverage Alcohol category and the changing demographics of the American consumer has created new challenges for the wine industry. The conversation will focus on how the industry can collectively adapt to better communicate with future high-value consumers with added insight to the local luxury wine tiers.

“I’m honored to present to WWS Napa/Sonoma chapter members. Research clearly shows that the demographics of our country are changing, and it’s important for the wine industry to understand and adjust to those changes,” said Mr. Stratton.

This event is open to active WWS members and non-members that are pre-registered by 5 p.m., February 8, 2023 at www.womenforwinesense.org

 

#womenforwinesense #womeninwine #womeninwinebusiness #wineevent #onlinewineevent #WineMarketCouncil #americanconsumer #winemarketing #wine #winelovers #napawine #sonomawine #wineindustry

2023 Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards London/Hong Kong

I’m so thrilled to be associated with this organization, and to be “nominated” to be a judge for the 2023 Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards London/Hong Kong.

The organizers state: “Your work in the industry is recognized by the Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards™”

The judging date is November 11th, 2023 and the wines and spirits will be judged by some of the world’s most influential female wine marketers, buyers, retailers, and sommeliers.

The wine business has discovered the exciting importance of women consumers.  Some facts:

  • 80%of wine is purchased by women (Women and Wine Study, Vinexpo)
  • Over 60% of wine is consumed by women (Women and Wine Study, Vinexpo)

#wwsa #womenswineandspiritsawards #wineawards #awards #women #womenbuyers #winetasting #womeninwine #womenspirits #wines #instawine #winejudge #winetime #winelife #winelovers #womeninwinebusiness #winetrade #winenews

A Unique “Women Wine Event” will be held for the first time at Vinitaly April 10th

Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator unite to tell the stories of seven women-led Italian wineries.

Monica Larner of Wine Advocate and Alison Napjus of Wine Spectator will share a podium for the first time during Vinitaly 2022, this Sunday, April 10th. These two leading wine critics and journalists will combine their powers to tell the stories of seven women-led Italian wineries. Seven iconic women, seven signature wines giving voice to the history and narrative that reveals the true soulfulness of Italian wine.

The question is why?  Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International and principal organizer of the event, said “This has been a long-standing dream for me, and I’ve been advocating for this event to happen for many years.  Why has something like this never happened before?”.  What seems a no-brainer is actually very complex.

Competing wine writers have never hosted such events before. Wine writing has a lot to do with competition. Between magazines, between the writers themselves, and certainly among readership; wine writing is based upon opinions and personal analyses, with the most technical, elegant, exacting and alluring tasting notes carrying a lot of weight and shaping careers in the sector. Nonetheless, Larner and Napjus, natural rivals for readership and prestige, have crossed all the historic boundaries between their publications in order to show the wine world the power of women to unite.

These two female wine critic titans are collaborating to create a once-in-a-lifetime event, featuring seven equally iconic female producers from Italy. Marilisa Allegrini, of Amarone fame; Albiera Antinori, the Queen of Super Tuscan; Chiara Boschis, the only female Barolo Boy; Elisabetta Foradori, one-woman pioneer from Trentino; Elena Fucci, genius of volcanic soils; Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, heiress to legendary Sassicaia; Arianna Occhipinti, firebrand from Sicily. These women will each present their signature wine, telling their personal stories with the support and engagement of Larner and Napjus.

As with the journalists, these producers have been competitors for many years and, in some cases, for many generations. They represent five different regions of Italy, and their ages span 40 years. Their wines constantly vie for market share and prominence across global markets. And yet, at Vinitaly 2022, they come together to share their wines and their stories in the name of hope and camaraderie. Never before has one wine event held so much significance or been such a role-model, leading the way for beating swords into plowshares, and hopefully not only the wine sector will sit up and take notice.

Registration and further details:  https://www.vinitaly.com/en/

@monicalarner @napjuswine @wine_advocate @wine_spectator @vinitalyofficial @steviekim222 @marilisaallegrini @marchesiantinori @chiaraboschis @agricolaforadori @elena.fucci @tenuta_sanguido_official @ariannaocchipinti @itatradeagency @italymfa

#womeninwine #womeninwinebusiness #italianwine #italianwinelovers #vinitaly #vino #winemaking #womenwinemakers #femalewinemakers #Wineadvocate #winespectator #womenwholead #Amarone #Vinitaly2022 #Tignanello #winejournalists #redwine #whitewine #womenwholead #winelife #winenews #winebusiness