Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/628173
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT 18 / the tasting panel / january-february 2016 S outhern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. and Glazer's, Inc., two of the country's leading wine and spirits distributors, signed an agree- ment that will merge and create the largest North American wine and spirits distribution company—the transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2016. The new company, Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, LLC, will distribute more than 150 million cases of wine and spirits annually, cover nearly 90% of the legal drinking age popula- tion in the U.S., employ more than 20,000 team members and have operations in 41 states plus the District of Columbia, the Caribbean and Canada. The com- pany will be headquartered in Miami, with significant ongoing operations, systems, executives and team members to be based in Dallas. The new company's leadership team and Board of Directors will be composed of representatives from both Southern and Glazer's. Harvey R. Chaplin will serve as Chairman and Bennett Glazer will serve as Executive Vice Chairman. The company will be managed by an Office of the CEO and President, with Wayne E. Chaplin serving as Chief Executive Officer and Sheldon Stein serving as President. Wayne Chaplin will be responsible for setting the company's overall strategic direction and day-to-day commercial and operational execution. Shelly Stein will be responsible for leading business development, merger and acquisition activities, and long-term growth initiatives on a global basis, and will assist with the strategic direction of the company as well as select key supplier relationships. Additional leadership roles at Southern Glazer's, reporting to the CEO, will include: Brad Vassar as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; Mel Dick as Senior Vice President and President, Wine Division; Steven Becker as Executive Vice President, Treasurer & Compliance; Thomas Greenlee as Executive Vice President, Finance; Lee Hager as Executive Vice President, Secretary and Administration; and Alan Greenspan as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Furthermore, Glazer's Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Rob Swartz will lead the Integration Management Office (IMO), partnering with Southern's Executive Vice President, Commercial Strategy Kevin Fennessey. The majority of Glazer's malt beverage distribution business is not included in the transaction. The busi- ness within Glazer's existing MillerCoors footprint will operate as a separate company, Glazer's Beer & Beverage, under the continued ownership of the Glazer family. The remainder of Glazer's malt bever- age business and Southern's malt beverage business will become part of Southern Glazer's. Joining Forces SOUTHERN WINE & SPIRITS OF AMERICA, INC. AND GLAZER'S, INC WILL MERGE TO BECOME SOUTHERN GLAZER'S WINE AND SPIRITS, LLC Executive leadership team members for Southern and Glazer's (left to right): Wayne E. Chaplin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern; Harvey R. Chaplin, Chairman of Southern; Bennett Glazer, Chairman of Glazer's; and Sheldon Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer of Glazer's. PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTHERN WINE & SPIRITS AND GLAZER'S