[en] - Component News - Beam Suntory Names Venky Iyer VP Digital Products and Experience

NEW YORK, NY, April 14, 2021 - To support its bold growth ambitions, Beam Suntory is sharpening its focus on scaling critical platforms, and to lead the company's efforts in the digital space, it has tapped Venky Iyer as Vice President - Digital Products and Experience.

More than ever, digital technology and data are crucial to fueling growth at a global level, and Beam Suntory has committed to investing significantly to further building and expanding its digital capabilities. This investment will allow the business to improve its ability to reach consumers and customers, creating direct relationships and delivering seamless, premium experiences - all with the intent of providing greater convenience and connection to its brands in new ways.

'Venky will be central to leading the continued evolution of our digital agenda as we further premiumize the digital consumer and customer experience with our business and our brands,' said Jessica Spence, President of Brands. 'With a background deeply rooted in digital, Venky will help to further build the capabilities and connections necessary to build premium brands of scale, allowing our business to thrive in the digital world. Supported by his vision, we will create a truly global digital ecosystem that fosters lasting connections with people in new, impactful ways.'

In this new role, Iyer will set the vision and strategy to drive momentum and rapidly advance Beam Suntory's digital agenda. His depth and breadth of experience include 15 years at Diageo, where he held global leadership roles in digital marketing, eCommerce, and digital innovation. He started and scaled business-critical partnerships with the world's leading digital and eCommerce platforms in his time at the company. He also launched Diageo's Technology Futures group to incubate and invest in startups shaping the future of online discovery, shopping, and brand experience. After Diageo, he cofounded Intent.ai, a SaaS platform that intuits consumer behavior from mobile networks.

'It's exciting to join Beam Suntory at an inflection point when the company has significantly raised its ambitions and accelerated its investment in digital,' said Iyer. 'I am thrilled to help Beam Suntory establish digital as an engine of transformational growth, especially on the heels of momentum gained last year. Beam Suntory is well-positioned to pave the way forward with digital in the spirits industry.'

Iyer will join Beam Suntory in Q2 2021.

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ABOUT BEAM SUNTORY
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker's Mark bourbon brands, Suntory whisky Kakubin and Courvoisier cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek, Basil Hayden's and Legent bourbon; Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki Japanese whisky; Teacher's, Laphroaig and Bowmore Scotch whisky; Canadian Club whisky; Hornitos and Sauza tequila; EFFEN, Haku and Pinnacle vodka; Sipsmith and Roku gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.