The Wehring Interview
By: Olly Wehring
Every month, the managing editor of just-drinks, Olly Wehring, gives a drinks executive a grilling.
The Wehring Interview - Diageo Africa president, Nick Blazquez - Part II
20 January 2012
Following on from part one of my interview with Diageo's Africa president, Nick Blazquez, which ran last week, this week we give you the second part, in which Blazquez gives us an idea of Diageo's future plans for the region.
The Wehring Interview - Diageo Africa president, Nick Blazquez - Part I
10 January 2012
Late last year, Olly Wehring visited New York with Diageo, and sat down with the company's head of Africa, Nick Blazquez, for an hour. Earlier today (10 January), Diageo completed its purchase of Meta Abo in Ethiopia. Put the two together, and welcome to part one of the first Wehring interview of 2012.
The Wehring Interview - Diageo Asia Pacific president, Gilbert Ghostine - Part II
20 October 2011
In the second part of this month's The Wehring Interview with Diageo's Asia Pacific president, Gilbert Ghostine gives us his views on the Cognac elephant in the room, the future for the company's domestic tie-ups in the region, and what the locals think of the UK-based multinational.
The Wehring Interview - Diageo Asia Pacific president, Gilbert Ghostine - Part I
18 October 2011
This month, just-drinks returns to its two-part extended format for The Wehring Interview. Earlier this month, I enjoyed an hour in the company of Diageo's Asia Pacific president, Gilbert Ghostine. I say enjoyed; I wasn't at my best to start.
The Wehring Interview - StarBev CEO, Alain Beyens
6 October 2011
It's almost two years since Anheuser-Busch InBev offloaded most of its assets in Central and Eastern Europe to CVC Capital for an initial US$2.2bn. Since the sale, CVC's beer business in the region, StarBev, has largely operated under the radar. High time, then, that we caught up with StarBev's CEO (and ex-InBev man), Alain Beyens. just-drinks deputy editor Chris Mercer flew to Prague to meet him.
The Wehring Interview - Anheuser-Busch InBev - Part II
28 June 2011
Last week we ran the first part of our exclusive interview with the chief marketing officer of Anheuser-Busch InBev, Chris Burggraeve. Here's part two, in which Olly Wehring tries to get inside the inner sanctum of A-B InBev. Read on to learn how successful he was.
The Wehring Interview - Anheuser-Busch InBev - Part I
23 June 2011
This month, we stay with beer for The Wehring Interview. After speaking to Heineken's CEO in May, I've been lucky enough to nail down the CMO of Anheuser-Busch InBev, Chris Burggraeve. In part one, below, we look at Chris' background, where his concentration is focussed and the perils of making - and keeping - a global beer brand. Part two will run next week.
The Wehring Interview – Heineken – Part II
26 May 2011
In part one of my interview with Heineken's CEO, Jean-François van Boxmeer, which ran earlier this week, we took a close look at the brewer's purchase of FEMSA Cerveza last year. We also started a world tour of beer markets, discussing Europe, Russia, Brazil and Mexico.
The Wehring Interview – Heineken – Part I
24 May 2011
This month, we have decided to run The Wehring Interview over two instalments. After all, having waited so long to speak to Heineken's CEO, I have a lot of questions for him. Luckily, I've been granted plenty of time in which to ask them.
The Wehring Interview - Carlsberg
26 April 2011
The first thing we should point out is that this is not Wehring. Family commitments in the form of a 3lb 8oz offspring has predicated that our editor is house-bound for the time being. The second is that only half of this interview took place in person in Copenhagen; the other half was conducted via 'phone from the terrace of an Italian vineyard following a meeting between yours' truly and approximately 50 wines. You're right, I'm showing off.
The Wehring Interview - Beam Global Spirits & Wine
13 April 2011
The third of this year's Wehring interviews keeps up the high profiles, if I do say so myself. Speaking via telephone, we have Matt Shattock, CEO of the soon-to-be stand-alone Beam Global Spirits & Wine.
The Wehring Interview - Pernod Ricard
10 March 2011
February's Wehring interview comes ten days late, due to the early arrival of Wehring Junior shortly after our editor returned from France, where he was granted 30 minutes with the CEO of Pernod Ricard, Pierre Pringuet. In their time together, Pringuet discusses the first six months of Pernod's fiscal 2011, as well as Absolut, China and war-chests.
The Wehring Interview - William Grant & Sons
27 January 2011
Every month, managing editor Olly Wehring turns his spotlight into the eyes of a senior drinks executive. First up in 2011 is the CEO of William Grant & Sons, Stella David.
The just-drinks interview - Concha y Toro global marketing director
26 October 2010
Last month, just-drinks was invited up to Manchester to see Concha y Toro's latest - and most high profile - advertising tie-up at work. Dean Best, who jumped higher than any other at the offer, took the opportunity to grill Giancarlo Bianchetti, global marketing director for Concha y Toro, not only about the marketing deal, but also about the past, present and future for the Chilean firm.
The just-drinks interview - Carlsberg's CEO
16 September 2010
Carlsberg held its 'Capital Markets Day 2010' in Copenhagen yesterday (16 September). Michelle Russell made the journey over to Denmark, and managed to grab some time with company CEO, Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen.
The just-drinks Interview – PepsiCo’s Global Health Policy Senior VP
10 September 2010
The debate raging around obesity, its victims and villains, causes and consequences, is shaping the policies of some of the world's most powerful multinational companies in a way few can have predicted only a few years ago. Derek Yach, senior vice president of global health policy for PepsiCo, talks to just-drinks.
just the Answer - Australian Vintage's CEO, Neil McGuigan
22 July 2010
Earlier today (22 July), Australian Vintage confirmed the permanent appointment of Neil McGuigan as its CEO. To commemorate this, we are running a special just the Answer, taken from our meeting with McGuigan earlier this year.
just the Answer - Mike Isaac, global marketing director Southern Comfort
15 July 2010
Southern Comfort, which is inextricably linked with New Orleans, has sat in Brown-Forman's stable for over 30 years now, and has been the recent subject of a makeover. In this month's just the Answer, Olly Wehring talks to the brand's global marketing director about past performance, future opportunities and the danger of over-extending.
The just-drinks Interview - Chivas Brothers' CEO, Christian Porta
1 July 2010
While our paths have crossed on an almost monthly basis over the last six years, just-drinks has never interviewed the chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard's Chivas Brothers unit, Christian Porta. So, when Olly Wehring was invited to the official opening of The Glenlivet's distillery extension last month, he took the opportunity to finally pin Porta down for a chat on all things Chivas.
The just-drinks Interview - Heineken's Head of Africa
15 April 2010
In the second of our just-drinks Interview special this month, Michelle Russell talks to Tom de Man, president of Africa and Middle East for Heineken, about the brewer's hopes in South Africa, and its partnership with Diageo in the region.
