Stock Spirits has appointed Steven Libermann to replace Jean-Christophe Coutures as its CEO from the beginning of December.
Libermann (below) will join the company from Nomad Foods, where he is currently group executive president. Coutures, who assumed the lead at Stock in mid-2022, is stepping down for “family reasons”, Stock said earlier today.
Since joining Nomad Foods in 2015 as MD of its ‘Western Europe’ operations, Libermann moved through the ranks and became the company’s group executive president just over a year ago. Stock chair Luis Bach credited him with having “an international perspective, a strong consumer focus and a record of disciplined delivery”.
Coutures, meanwhile, was credited by the board with helping reposition Stock “from a Central European operator to a leading, mainstream pan-European player”. Before joining the Poland-headquartered company, Coutures was CEO of Pernod Ricard’s Chivas Brothers division, having spent 21 years with the group. During his tenure with Stock, he oversaw the acquisitions of Sierra tequila owner Borco in Germany blended scotch whisky brand Clan Campbell (from Pernod Ricard) – both in 2023 – and UK-based distributor The Drinks Company six months ago.
In April, Stock announced a change of CMO as Anne Martin replaced Nicolas Mazuranic.
