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CONSTELLATION
BRANDS SENIOR EXECUTIVE TO RETIRE
VICTOR, N.Y., April 9, 2009 –
Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ, ASX: CBR), the largest wine company in
the world, announced today that Andy Berk, a member of Constellation Brands’
Executive Management Committee and president and chief executive officer of
Constellation Services will retire effective May 31, 2009. As part of
the transition, Berk will stay on as a consultant for one year, and will
continue to serve on Crown Imports’ board of directors and to participate in
Constellation’s Executive Management Committee. Subsequent to Berk’s
retirement, the Constellation Services management team will report to the
appropriate functional executive at Constellation Brands.
“Andy and
his teams at Barton and Constellation Beers and Spirits have played an integral
role in transforming Constellation Brands into a global leader in the beverage
alcohol industry,” said Rob Sands, president and CEO, Constellation
Brands. “His expertise and leadership have been vital to the growth
of our company and helped set Constellation on a path for continued
success.”
Berk joined Barton Incorporated in 1990
as president and chief operating officer, and continued in that role after
Barton merged with Constellation Brands in 1993. He was named
president and CEO of Barton Incorporated in 1998 and appointed CEO of
Constellation Beers and Spirits in 2003. In addition to his work with
Constellation, Berk has been active in various industry trade associations,
including an almost three-year stint as chairman of Distilled Spirits Council of
the United States and managing director of The Century Council.
About
Constellation Brands
Constellation
Brands, Inc. is the largest wine company in the world with a strong portfolio of
consumer-preferred premium wine brands complemented by spirits, imported beer
and other select beverage alcohol products. The company has significant market
presence in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Based
in Victor, N.Y., the company has more than 200 brands in its portfolio, sales in
about 150 countries and operates approximately 50 facilities. It is
the largest premium wine company in the U.S.; the largest wine company in the
U.K., Australia and Canada; the second largest wine company in New Zealand; and
the largest beer importer and marketer in the U.S. through its Crown Imports
joint venture with Mexico’s Grupo
Modelo. Constellation
Brands is a S&P 500 Index and Fortune 500® company. Major brands
in the company’s portfolio include Robert Mondavi wines, Hardys, Clos du Bois,
Blackstone, Banrock Station, Arbor Mist, Estancia, Ravenswood, Jackson-Triggs,
Kim Crawford, Corona Extra, Black Velvet Canadian Whisky and SVEDKA Vodka. To
learn more about Constellation Brands and its product portfolio visit the
company’s Web site at www.cbrands.com.
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