Robbie Millar Appointed MD Scotch & Irish Brand House, Beam Suntory
Robbie Millar Appointed MD Scotch & Irish Brand House, Beam Suntory
Millar returns to the UK to lead a Brand House focused on sustainability and premiumization
CHICAGO, July 7th, 2022 – Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits, has named Robbie Millar Managing Director of the Scotch & Irish Brand House, overseeing a brand portfolio that includes Laphroaig®, Bowmore®, Auchentoshan® and Kilbeggan®.
“Beam Suntory is building global brands that consumers love, and our Brand House Managing Directors play a critical role in that journey,” said Jessica Spence, President of Brands at Beam Suntory. “Robbie is an exceptional, commercially astute leader who will steer, alongside a superb team, our Scotch and Irish Brand House into an ever-stronger position. More sustainable and more premium and always, always with our consumers and customers at the heart of our plans.”
Millar is an experienced leader with a 20-year career in the premium spirits and beer industry and a track record for building global brands. He joins from Carlsberg, where he served as VP Global Marketing, managing the company’s two largest brands – Carlsberg and Tuborg.
Prior to Carlsberg, Millar served as Global Director, Category Development for SAB Miller, Senior Partner and Managing Director for Kantar Consulting, and Managing Director for Compass Box Whisky.
“The remit I have here at Beam Suntory in leading this amazing house is hugely exciting and I recognise the responsibility it comes with,” said Millar “I am a custodian of iconic Scotch & Irish whiskies and have a duty to build these brands for the benefit of all our people, consumers, customers and the local communities in which we operate. Underpinning all our work - fuelling our continued success - will be a deep belief in craft, quality and sustainability.”
Millar’s appointment further strengthens the company’s Brand House leadership, which includes end-to-end P&L management. Earlier this month, Beam Suntory announced the appointment of company veteran Carlo Coppola to Managing Director of the James B. Beam Distilling Co. Brand House.
Millar, a native of Scotland, will be relocating to the United Kingdom for the role. He will spend the majority of his time directly in Scotland to be close to Beam Suntory’s brand heritage and build relationships with the wider whisky community and trade.
Millar will report to Spence.
About Beam Suntory
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark® bourbon brands and Courvoisier® cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, and Legent™ bourbon; Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™ Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore® Scotch whisky; Canadian Club® whisky; Hornitos® and Sauza® tequila; EFFEN®, Haku® and Pinnacle® vodka; Sipsmith® and Roku™ gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good, which now includes its transformative sustainability strategy, Proof Positive. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit https://www.beamsuntory.com/ and https://www.drinksmart.com/.