Peter
H.
Soderberg Selected to Fill New Director Position
FAIRPORT,
N.Y., April 9, 2007
- Constellation
Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ; ASX: CBR), a leading international producer and
marketer of beverage alcohol, today announced that its board of directors
authorized an increase in board positions from seven to eight, and approved
Peter H. Soderberg, 60, to fill the new board seat effective April 4, 2007.
Soderberg is currently president and chief executive officer of Batesville,
Indiana-based Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HB), a public holding company
for two major operating businesses serving the healthcare and funeral services
industries.
“With
tremendous
manufacturing, marketing and operational experience in the consumer products,
business-to-business and service industry sectors, Peter will be a valued
addition to the Constellation Brands board and we look forward to the
contributions he will make and the guidance he will provide,” said Richard
Sands, Constellation Brands chairman and chief executive officer. “It has been
our desire to increase the number of directors as the company grows, and
we
believe the time is right to add another voice to our strategic business
analysis and decision making capabilities.”
Prior
to joining
Hillenbrand in 2006, Soderberg was with privately held Welch Allyn Inc. from
1993 to 2006, rising to president and chief executive officer of the New
York-based medical equipment manufacturer in 2000. Soderberg spent 23 years
at
Johnson & Johnson in various management positions, mostly
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in
consumer products, and he also founded a venture capital business, Princeton
Entrepreneurial Resources. He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from
Yale University. Soderberg is currently on the boards of the Advanced Medical
Technology Association, the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Greatbatch, Inc.,
as
well as Hillenbrand.
About
Constellation Brands
Constellation
Brands, Inc. is a leading international producer and marketer of beverage
alcohol brands with a broad portfolio across the wine, spirits and imported
beer
categories. Well-known brands in Constellation’s portfolio include:
Almaden,
Arbor
Mist, Vendange, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Hardys, Goundrey, Nobilo, Kim
Crawford, Alice White, Ruffino, Kumala, Robert Mondavi Private Selection,
Rex
Goliath, Toasted Head, Blackstone, Ravenswood, Estancia, Franciscan Oakville
Estate, Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs, Simi, Robert Mondavi Winery, Stowells,
Blackthorn, Black Velvet, Mr. Boston, Fleischmann’s, Paul Masson Grande Amber
Brandy, Chi-Chi’s, 99 Schnapps, Ridgemont Reserve 1792 and the Effen and SVEDKA
vodka lines. Constellation Brands, through Crown Imports LLC, imports and
markets Corona Extra, Corona Light, Pacifico, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo,
St.
Pauli Girl and Tsingtao beers. For additional information about Constellation
Brands, as well as its product portfolio, visit the company’s Web site at
www.cbrands.com.