FAIRPORT,
N.Y., May 10, 2007
-- Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ, ASX: CBR), a leading
international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol, today announced
it has
named Robert P. Ryder executive vice president and chief financial officer,
replacing Tom Summer, who has held that position for 10 years. In October
2006
Summer announced he would be retiring from the company. Ryder’s appointment, and
Summer’s retirement, will be effective May 15, 2007.
“Bob
has an excellent track record of creating
shareholder value throughout his career. His demonstrated leadership abilities,
his broad financial background and his history of operating in the global
consumer products industry make him a terrific addition as a key member
of our
executive management team,” stated Richard Sands, Constellation Brands chairman
and chief executive officer. “Tom has been a valued member of the Constellation
Brands management team and corporate family over the past decade, whose
contributions during this rapid growth period of the company’s history cannot be
measured. He will be missed, and we wish him well in all of his future
endeavors.”
Ryder
was most
recently the chief administrative officer at IMG, a major sports marketing
and
media company in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to IMG, he was senior vice president
and
chief financial officer at American Greetings, also in
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Cleveland.
He
previously spent 13 years in positions of increasing responsibility with
PepsiCo, Inc. His most recent positions with PepsiCo were at its Frito-Lay
division as vice president of finance and controller at its Plano, Texas
headquarters and, preceding that, as vice president and chief financial
officer
for Frito-Lay International’s European developing markets group headquartered in
London.
A
native of Scranton, Pa., in 1982 Ryder
graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Science degree
in
accounting. He began his career with seven years at Price Waterhouse in
New York
City, and he is a certified public accountant.
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.
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