US: Pernod Ricard revamps US sales set-up

Pernod Ricard has announced a shake-up of its sales team in the US.

The French drinks giant, which updated its distribution deals in the US with Southern Wine & Spirits of America and Republic National Distributing Company, said yesterday (8 April) that the new organisation will include five division profit centres, effective from 1 July.

These will complement the distributor alignment of three geographic divisions, the general managers of which will be Martin Crane, Eric Dopkins and Howard Jeffrey.

The profit centres will also complement a newly-formed control states division, with John Trainer as general manager), and a national accounts division, which will have Robert MacNevin as its general manager.

The sales divisions will consist of 14 business units, plus functional specialists in marketing, analytics and trade channel management, Pernod's US unit said.

As a result of the reorganisation, Pernod's sales personnel in the US will no longer work out of the Coral Springs, Florida office.

Marty Durkin, current PRUSA south-east division vice president, will move to Southern Wine & Spirits as its vice president, sales and marketing - Pernod Ricard, effective from 1 July. Durkin will report to Kevin Fennessey, senior vice president of marketing for Southern Wine & Spirits of America.

"Our complementary alignment, experienced leadership team, and new ways of working will afford us the speed and power needed to succeed in this increasingly competitive marketplace," said Paul Duffy, chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard USA.