The move, announced today, will see Spence step down on 29 April. According to the brand owner, Spence, who assumed the role of North America head at the start of last year, “has decided to pursue other opportunities outside the company”.
Prior to her near-five years with the group, joining as president of brands in late 2019, Spence spent almost 15 years in the brewing industry, first with SABMiller prior to its 2016 acquisition by Anheuser-Busch InBev before working for Carlsberg for seven years where she rose to be chief commercial officer.
Coppola, meanwhile, has worked for Beam Suntory since 2007, stepping across from Pernod Ricard, where he was senior finance manager for Malibu-Kahlua International, to become director of business development & activation for the east region of the US. After holding five other roles, he was promoted to chief commercial officer for the US at the start of 2020, then to MD of the James B Beam Distilling Co unit two years later.
He assumed his current position just four months ago.
“With a career spanning across US commercial, finance and global brands over the past 20-plus years, Carlo brings strong commercial acumen, in-depth customer and consumer knowledge …,” said CEO Greg Hughes, to whom Coppola will report in to. “We are grateful to Jessica for all she has done to help transform and build Beam Suntory during this critical period of growth and wish her well in her next endeavour.”
Last month, the Jim Beam owner updated its senior sales team in the US and created the chief brands officer role for the market.
