Next Century Spirits has confirmed three internal promotions of executives with previous experience at Beam Suntory, Diageo and Pernod Ricard.
The North Carolina-based spirits-finishing specialist, which was founded four years ago, is splitting its CEO position between Rob Mason and Anthony Moniello. Jenny Gates, meanwhile, will become executive VP of finance & strategy.
The moves took effect at the start of this month.
Mason joined Next Century as chief operating officer in April 2021 after almost ten years with Beam Suntory, where he rose to VP of whiskey. Prior to his time with the Jim Beam brand owner, he worked for Diageo for six years and was senior brand manager for Crown Royal when he moved to Beam Suntory in 2010.
Moniello, who will continue as CEO of Next Century’s Creek Water Whiskey business, also spent time with Diageo, quitting the position of US consumer planning & activation director for gins, rums and Tequilas last year.
After eight years with Pernod, Gates stepped down as VP of strategic execution & change management to join Next Century as chief strategy officer, also in April 2021.
“Rob Mason will have primary responsibility for NCS operations, R&D, beverage development and international expansion,” Next Century said this week. “Anthony Moniello will have primary responsibility for all domestic sales, marketing and business development.”
The company owns a patented “post-distillation filtering and finishing technology”.
American whiskey faces challenges but its long-term outlook could scarcely be better
