• July 28, 2009

Foster's Wine Estates has named Francesca Schuler to the new position of chief marketing officer for North America.

Foster's Wine Estates, the premium wine unit of Australia's Foster's Groups. The Wine Estates unit is part of its Foster's Americas regional division. Foster's Wine Estates includes brands like Beringer Vineyards and Chateau St. Jean in the Bay Area, Australia's Penfolds, Rosemount and Wolf Blass, Italy's Castello di Gabbiano and New Zealand's Matua Valley.

Schuler has 20 years of marketing and sales experience in the wine business and in other industries. She will be based in Foster's North American headquarters in the Napa Valley and will be responsible for all consumer and trade marketing activities, including public relations, hospitality, direct-to-consumer marketing and brand education.

Schuler worked at Gallo before earning her MBA. She also has led corporate strategy at Gap Inc., brand management for the Gap brand and most recently served as head of marketing for Method Products.--Tanya Irwin