Australian spirits business Blue Sky Drinks has named Paul Slaughter as its chief executive officer.
The group said in a statement the move comes as it “fast-tracks plans to become Australia’s largest independent spirits and ready-to-drink business”.
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Blue Sky Drinks was formed in October after acquiring Australian distiller Top Shelf International and local RTD business Gravity Drinks.
The publicly-listed Top Shelf appointed administrators in August last year to explore a recapitalisation or sale of the Grainshaker vodka business.
Financial terms of Blue Sky’s acquisitions of Top Shelf and Gravity Drinks were not disclosed at the time.
Slaughter starts his new role at the spirits group this week, Blue Sky said.
He joins the business from Australian importer and distributor Stellar Distribution, where he was CEO for more than two years.
His previous experience also includes being chief executive at Australian beef and seafood processor Harvest Road Group, and local meat pies maker Mrs Mac’s.
“It’s been a huge six months since the merger (with Gravity Drinks Co. and Top Shelf
International) and we’ve achieved an enormous amount in that time, reducing A$10 million ($7m) of our cost base and increasing active outlets by 50%,” founder and chairman Mick Spencer said.
“Paul brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience, he’s led some incredible Australian brands through periods of transformation and growth, understands complex operations and has a proven ability to build high-performing teams.”
Liam Battye and Mr Spencer, two of Gravity Drinks’ founders, joined the new Blue Sky Drinks business when it launched last year. Battye is head of operations.
Former Beam Suntory and Sazerac executive Ray Noble also took a seat on the new company’s board.
Just Drinks has asked Blue Sky for details on the shareholding structure of the business.
Blue Sky’s new CEO Slaughter said: “I’ve led or worked on a lot of quality businesses with great people in the past, and I can honestly say that this small, but building team, punches incredibly above its weight.”
Blue Sky Drinks’ portfolio is also made up of brands such as Ned whisky and Gravity alcoholic seltzer RTDs.
In its statement, the business said it was also preparing to launch another agave spirit brand called Sollos, which it claims is “Australia’s first single-estate agave spirit”. The company is also due to open a cellar door for the brand in Whitsundays at the end of next month.
When Blue Sky Drinks acquired Top Shelf, it also bought the agave brand Act of Treason. Just Drinks has asked for details on what has happened to the brand.
Reflecting on Slaughter’s appointment, chairman Spencer added: “As founders, we naturally spend a lot of time creating opportunities, building relationships and thinking about what’s next. Most founders aren’t great CEOs. I have been a founder now five times, and pride myself on knowing I am not a great CEO once a business is stable, to take it to new heights. Paul’s appointment allows us to complement that entrepreneurial mindset with experienced executive leadership focused on customer development, execution, people development and scalable systems.
“I expect he’ll strengthen every part of the organisation, but most importantly, he’ll help create an environment where great people can do their best work and where our brands can continue to grow.”
