News Alert: Stoli Group Names Damian McKinney Global CEO

Stoli Group has appointed Damian McKinney as its global CEO. McKinney is the founder of global consultancy McKinney Rogers, which he began in 1999 and sold in 2017.

McKinney was awarded Keeper of the Quaich for his role in transforming the Johnnie Walker brand and services to the Scotch Whisky industry. Walmart, Pfizer, and Thomson Reuters have been other notable clients over the years. McKinney credits his 18 years as an operations commando with the UK Royal Marines with providing valuable experience to apply to his business career.

Hugues Pietrini was ousted as Stoli’s global CEO in April 2019, after which North America chief Rudy Costello took on his duties. This April, Costello too left the company, which subsequently named Diageo veteran Dan Buttling as head of its North America business. In the U.S., Stoli’s core vodka brand grew 2.9% to 1.9 million cases last year, according to Impact Databank. Globally, the brand rose 2% to 3.8 million cases.—Daniel Marsteller

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