Colin Kavanagh Named Pernod Ricard North America CMO
Spirits company Pernod Ricard has a new chief marketing officer for its North America region. The company named Colin Kavanagh to the role, which focuses on consumer-centric and digital transformation.
Kavanagh is a veteran in the spirits segment, having spent 25 years at several Pernod Ricard businesses, including Irish Distillers, Pernod Ricard HQ, Corby Spirit and Wine, Pernod Ricard Brazil, and The Absolut Company. In these roles, he focused on transformational capabilities to drive acceleration with marketing at the core. More recently, he was senior vice president of transformation for the company.
Kavanagh is taking over for Pam Forbus, who was appointed CMO for the company in 2020.
A Look Behind Consumer-Centric Marketing
With a number of increasing eyes toward sustainability, Pernod Ricard has looked to transform its product marketing to reduce the load of environmental waste. The company recently launched a three-month test of single-mold paper-based bottles commercially within the U.K. The effort will help consumers to efficiently and easily recycle their products.
The company also jumped into the ready-to-drink segment in recent years in order to cater to growing demand. During St. Patrick’s Day last year, the company introduced Jameson Ginger & Lime, a carbonated cocktail in a can made with Irish whiskey.
Pernod Ricard is a subsidiary of France-based Pernod Ricard SA., which employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide and is home to several household brands, including Absolut Vodka, Avión Tequila, Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlúa Liqueur, Malibu, and more.
