• Ad Age, Wednesday, July 26, 2006 1:45 PM

Spirits marketer Beam Global Spirits & Wine is looking for a new marketing boss. The company, which recently completed a massive expansion of its marketing department following an acquisition that doubled its size, says current CMO Beth Bronner is "departing the company to pursue other interests." In 2005, Beam acquired several new brands from Allied Domeq, including Sauza tequila and Makers Mark whiskey, for $1.2 billion. At the time, Bronner was charged with scaling Beam's marketing to its new stature as the world's No. 4 distiller. She increased marketing personnel to 160 from 85 and planned aggressive increases in spending abroad. She came to Beam with solid marketing credentials, after working on brands such as Revlon, Nabisco, AT&T, and Sunbeam. But she had no prior spirits experience. During the search for her replacement, the company's marketing duties will fall to John Muller, svp-strategy and corporate development, on an interim basis. Before joining Beam, Muller served as a consultant to the company as it integrated the 25-plus Allied brands into its portfolio. His background also includes a stint as senior vp-strategy for Bank of America, McKinsey & Co., and Procter & Gamble Co.

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