Spirits brand owner Amber Beverage Group has recruited externally for its next CEO, welcoming Latvia-based Normunds Stanevics to the role.
The company, which is majority owned by Stoli Group and also headquartered in Latvia, confirmed last week that Stanevics (below) had been appointed with immediate effect. The news follows the departure of Jekaterina Stuģe as CEO back in January last year.
The post had been held on an interim basis since then by chief legal officer Arturs Evarts.
Stanevics is new to the alcohol industry but has “over two decades of senior international leadership experience across multiple industries,” according to Amber. From 2013 to 2022, he worked for ice cream manufacturer Food Union, rising to become CEO for three years in 2019.
He has spent the last two years as CEO of a university hospital in Latvia’s capital, Riga.
“We recognise that ABG faces significant challenges and operational complexities,” said Stoli Group in the appointment announcement. “However, we are confident that Normunds brings exactly the right combination of crisis management expertise, transformational leadership and strategic vision needed to turn our company around and position us for future success.”
Stanevics added: “My immediate focus will be on delivering quick wins in the first 100 days, implementing a comprehensive transformation and growth plan and establishing a strong foundation for our long-term strategic vision over years to come.”
In results from the first three months of this year, Amber, which oversees the Kah and Rooster Rojo tequila brands as well as Moskovskaya vodka, posted a 23% slump in year-on-year sales to EUR42.8m (US$50.4m).
