Juan Gentile (left) will assume leadership of the AmTR business and Anette Mourier will take on the role of Global Cruise Manager.

Edrington Global Travel Retail (GTR) has announced a number of changes within its Americas Travel Retail (AmTR) business to provide greater support to retail partners and drive continued growth in the region.

Juan Gentile, formerly Senior Vice President for Latin America and Travel Retail will assume leadership of the AmTR business in the new role of Managing Director, Americas Travel Retail.

In this role, he will be 100% focused on the travel retail channel, executing a growth strategy focused on premiumisation and retail excellence. He will also lead and support a new Global Cruise Development initiative.

Gentile, who has been at Edrington for 14 years, assumed responsibility for travel retail in 2012 and was a board member of Edrington WEBB Travel Retail Americas. He played a central role in the 2017 integration of this business within Edrington’s global structure, establishing a fully owned and integrated GTR business unit.

KEY CRUISE APPOINTMENT

According to figures from Cruise Lines International Association, global cruise passengers grew +20.5% in 2017, with North America (including Mexico) representing almost half (49%) of global ocean passengers.

Anette Mourier, therefore, will assume the role of Global Cruise Manager, responsible for the on- and off-premise cruise business. Formerly Marketing Director with WEBB, the company said Mourier combined significant experience of on-premise brand building with strong relationships in the cruise line industry.

As part of the reorganisation, Lilian Sanchez (left) takes full responsibility for the Edrington portfolio as Head of Marketing for Edrington Americas Travel Retail. Jada Portela has also been promoted to Regional Director —Latin America & Caribbean.

Igor Boyadjian, Managing Director, Edrington Global Travel Retail said: “The Americas region in travel retail is full of opportunity, with major investments in airport infrastructure and improved retail facilities as well as a dynamic and rapidly growing cruise business.

“By allowing Juan to focus all his experience and expertise on leading our travel retail business and bringing in Anette to develop and execute a tailored strategy for the cruise line business, I’m confident we are in a strong position to grow our brands and strengthen our premiumisation agenda in the region.”

Gentile added: “I’m extremely passionate about travel retail and believe that an even stronger focus on this channel in the Americas is a crucial step. Edrington has laid out a very bold vision to take leadership of the super-premium spirits category in the Americas and travel retail has a major role to play in delivering on this vision by driving brand equity and consumer recruitment at iconic, high-profile locations across the region.”