Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/72473
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT Movers & Shakers A s the beverage industry's largest career network, BevForce knows who's coming and who's going at the leading global beverage compa- nies. BevForce is the only beverage industry staffi ng agency providing both an online job board and executive recruiting services. Visit www. bevforce.com to sign up for the Movers & Shakers newsletter or to report your job move or recent hire. John Blair has been named President at Bruvado. He had been EVP Sales DSD at CytoSport. Kristina Kiernan has been named Director of Brand Marketing at Phusion Projects. She had been Division Marketing Director at William Grant & Sons. Daniel Mandelbaum has been named Marketing Director – Kraken/ Dobel at Proximo Spirits. He had been Brand Director – Heineken Lager at Heineken USA. Norm Latham has been named VP, Sales Director at Pong Beer Company. He had been GM at Pabst Brewing Co. Gary Glass has been named President at Mendocino Wine Company. He had been VP Brand Development and Strategic Initiatives at Francis Ford Coppola Presents. Scott Mills has been named Vice President - Finance at Genesis Today. He had been Director Merchandise Finance at Radio Shack. Peter Baedeker has been named Managing Director, Imports at Purple Wine Co. He had been President at Henry Wine Group. Nicholas Fink has been named SVP Chief Strategy Offi cer at Beam Inc. He had been VP, Strategy & Corporate Development at Beam Inc. Richard Perez has been named Southeast Regional Manager at Deep Eddy Vodka. He had been Southeast Regional Manager at Robert Oatley Vineyards. Richard Harrison has been named Western Division Manager, On-Premise Sales at VOSS Artesian Water from Norway. He had been Western Regional Manager at Danone Waters of America. Matthew C. Smith has been named Southern Division Manager, On Premise Sales at VOSS Artesian Water from Norway. He had been Division Manager – Spirits & Fine Wine Division at Republic National Distributing Company of Washington DC. BevForce Hot Shot Each month we check in with one BevForce Mover & Shaker to provide you with some behind-the-scenes insight on the job search process, the beverage industry's most innovative companies and the executives who drive them. This month, we chatted with Danny Mandelbaum, who was recently named Marketing Director – Kraken Rum and Dobel at Proximo Spirits. He was previ- ously Brand Director – Heineken Lager at Heineken USA. TP: How would you defi ne Proximo's culture and what attracted you to it? DM: Proximo is translated as "next" in Spanish, so innovation is front and center. This is a fast-paced company with a true challenger mentality. I was attracted by the dynamism and almost electric energy you feel as soon as you walk in. Being the next major producer of innovative spirits marketing and new product development also played a big role. TP: What advice would you give to job seekers looking for their next role? DM: Don't just look at the name. Obviously, that is important. But to me it was about fi nding a match between the company and what I was looking for. TP: If you weren't sipping Kraken Rum, you would be drinking . . . DM: Not sure, but it would probably involve fi re and perhaps even a little umbrella. 14 / the tasting panel / july 2012