Leadership changes at The Absolut Company

Xavier Beysecker, currently VP Marketing, Absolut at The Absolut Company is appointed VP Digital of Pernod Ricard Asia, effective as of 1st November 2015. Xavier will be based in Hong Kong.

Xavier holds a business degree from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Rouen, France. He joined the Group in 1998 as Marketing Manager at Pernod, after 6 years at Nestlé in various Marketing and Sales positions. In 2002, he was appointed Marketing & International Director of Pernod. Xavier was then named Vice President Marketing of Pernod Ricard Asia in 2009. He was then appointed to the position of Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Hong Kong 2012 before being named VP Marketing, Absolut at The Absolut Company.

Craig Johnson, currently VP Marketing, Malibu and Kahlua at The Absolut Company is appointed VP Marketing, Absolut at The Absolut Company, effective as of 1st November 2015.

Craigholds a Bachelor degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. He started his career in 1993 as Brand Manager at BIC Corporation. He joined Allied Domecq Spirits USA in 1999 as Group Brand Director, and later joined Pernod Ricard USA in 2004 where he successively held the roles of Senior Brand Manager, Brand Director and VP Marketing, Malibu and Kahlua. In 2013, Craig joined The Absolut Company as Global Brand Director Malibu and was then appointed VP Marketing Malibu and Kahlua in 2014.

Colin Kavanagh, currently Marketing Director of Pernod Ricard Brasil is appointed VP Marketing, Malibu and Kahlua at The Absolut Company, effective as of 15th November 2015.

Colin holds a degree in business studies and French from Trinity College, University of Dublin. He joined IDL in 1996 as Export Orientation Programme graduate (former Graduate Placement Programme), and then successively held the positions of Regional Manager and Marketing Manager Jameson.

He later joined Pernod Ricard Headquarters in 2004 as Marketing Best Practices Manager, and in 2006 he was appointed VP Marketing of Corby Spirit and Wine. Since 2010, he has been Marketing Director of Pernod Ricard Brasil.