just the Ten - Top Interviews of 2010

With the end of the year looming, just-drinks is running a series of 'Top Tens of the Year' in the run-up to Christmas.

Here are the ten most read interviews on just-drinks in 2010.

10: just the Answer - Australian Vintage's CEO, Neil McGuigan

In July, Australian Vintage confirmed the permanent appointment of Neil McGuigan as its CEO. We spoke to McGuigan at the LIWF in May.

9: just the Answer - Diageo's Chief Marketing Officer 

In April, we sat down with Diageo's chief marketing officer, Andy Fennell, who assumed the post in September 2008. Fennell timed his promotion to almost coincide with the economic downturn, but remains in strong support of the strategy of premiumisation.

8: just the Answer – Stock Spirit's CEO

To celebrate his first anniversary in the role of CEO at Stock Spirits, Chris Heath spoke to just-drinks about the company's business model, its portfolio and its future plans for growth.

7: The just-drinks interview - Concha y Toro's Global Marketing Director

In September, 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, spoke to 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 wine giant.

6: The just-drinks Interview - Chivas Brothers' CEO

While our paths had crossed on an almost monthly basis over the last six years, just-drinks had 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 in June, he took the opportunity to finally pin Porta down for a chat on all things Chivas.

5: The just-drinks Interview - Heineken's Head of Africa

In April, Michelle Russell spoke 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.

4: The just-drinks Interview - Whyte & Mackay's CEO

In the first just-drinks interview of 2010, we sit down with John Beard, CEO of Whyte & Mackay, and ask him about his first nine months in the hotseat, his company's relationship with its Indian owners and where he sees opportunity for growth going forward. Go on, take a guess.

3: The just-drinks Interview – PepsiCo’s Global Health Policy Senior VP

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. As pressure has mounted from governments, NGOs and the media, the food and drink industry has transformed its approach to the crisis. Derek Yach, senior vice president of global health policy for PepsiCo, talks to just-drinks.

2: The just-drinks Interview - Pernod Ricard's MD of Finance

In late-February, Pernod Ricard's recently-appointed managing director of finance, Gilles Bogaert, came to the UK to look over the company's most recent set of figures. While in the country, Olly Wehring took the opportunity to grill Bogaert about the last six months for Pernod, how the downturn has affected the company, and what Pernod would do if - when? - the bargains come knocking.

1: The just-drinks interview - Carlsberg's CEO

In September, Carlsberg held its 'Capital Markets Day 2010' in Copenhagen. Michelle Russell made the journey over to Denmark, and managed to grab some time with company CEO, Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen.