Beam switches presidents

Beam has appointed a new president for its Asia Pacific/South America business. 

Nicholas Fink, the company’s chief strategy officer, will succeed Phil Baldock as president of its Asia Pacific/South America unit (APSA).

Baldock plans to retire from Beam effective December 31 after 14 years with the company.

Matt Shattock, president and chief executive officer of Beam said: “Phil Baldock is an inventive strategist whose entrepreneurial and dynamic leadership style has achieved the very best for Beam in our second largest market. He developed our stronghold in Australia, where Jim Beam is the leading spirits brand, and enhanced our routes to market in the region’s developed and emerging markets.

“We certainly respect Phil’s desire to pause and spend more time with his family before tackling his next endeavor, and we wish him all the best. Nick Fink is also a gifted and dynamic leader with a unique breadth of experience that makes him the ideal successor to Phil. We have a very strong foundation in APSA, and Nick will work with the excellent commercial and marketing team we have in place to continue building our Power Brands and winning markets across the segment.”

Baldock added: “We’ve taken the Beam business a long way in Asia Pac over the years, always innovating and continuing to build our position in Australia, as well as opening up new frontiers across the region.

“I will leave with great confidence that under Nick’s leadership APSA’s best days lie ahead, and I’ll continue doing my part as a loyal brand fan.”

Fink, 38, is a 7-year veteran of Beam who served in management, commercial, marketing and legal roles before becoming the chief strategy officer in 2012.

Fink and his family will relocate to Sydney in the coming weeks.