Diageo North America (DNA) has tapped Rodney Williams as president of Diageo Beer Company (DBC) and Canada.
Williams succeeds Nuno Teles, who occupied the role before moving to the United Kingdom to serve as Diageo’s managing director for Great Britain, a promotion that was announced in April.
Before joining DNA, Williams spent more than a decade in senior roles at Moët Hennessy, most recently as president and CEO of the company’s Belvedere Vodka from July 2017 through January 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile. Under Williams’ guidance, Belvedere cut its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 80%, was the first distillery to receive a green energy grant from the European Commission, and recorded net profit growth of +160% between 2019 and 2021.
Prior to helming the Belvedere brand, Williams was chief marketing officer and executive vice president of brands at Möet Hennessy USA and executive vice president of the company’s spirits brands before that. Möet Hennessy’s spirits portfolio includes Ardbeg Single Malt, Belvedere Vodka, Glenmorangie Scotch, Grand Marnier Cognac Liqueur and Hennessy Cognac.
Williams’ resume also includes a stint at Jackson Family Wines, where he served as senior vice president, classic brands from January 2010 through April 2011. In that role, he oversaw the launch of Kendall Jackson Avant, the brand’s largest rollout in its history.
Before joining the beverage-alcohol industry, Williams worked at Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble. He earned an MBA from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College. Williams is a trustee of the James Beard Foundation.
DBC’s portfolio includes Guinness, Lone River Ranch Water and Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling seltzer. Year-to-date through July 10, DBC is the seventh largest beer category vendor at off-premise retailers tracked by market research firm IRI. Dollar sales of the company’s offerings increased +1.9%, to $407.9 million, at multi-outlet food and convenience stores.