Pernod Ricard general manager Stephen Brauer has been poached by Foster’s to head up its Americas wine operation.
Brauer, who starts on 13 April, replaces Scott Weiss who had been in the job since Foster’s took over Southcorp in 2005.
Weiss was ousted last month during Foster’s wine asset review. Chairman David Crawford said there had been a ‘poor execution’ of the American wine business.
The British-born Brauer, who has over 20 years’ experience in the US drinks industry, was head of Pernod Ricard’s US wine and champagne business.
He began his career in wine with Seagram in the Napa Valley, spending 14 years there before joining Beam Global.
Brauer’s close connections with many US distributors is understood to have been a key factor in his appointment.
Brauer, who is understood to have left Pernod Ricard yesterday was not available for comment.
Written by Chris Snow in Adelaide
