Constellation Brands is making a pair of executive moves, placing Jim Sabia in charge of the company’s beer division and promoting Mallika Monteiro to the expanded role of chief growth, strategy and digital officer. Those moves take effect on March 1.
“To achieve our long-term aspirations, it is critical that we continue to invest in broadening the knowledge, perspective and capabilities of our leaders,” Constellation Brands president and CEO Bill Newlands said in a press release. “These moves will help us do just that. Both Mallika and Jim will continue to work closely with the rest of our executive management committee to further build on our success.”
Sabia’s move into the newly created role of EVP and managing director of Constellation’s beer division — which includes Mexican import brands Corona, Modelo and Pacifico in the U.S. and craft beer brands Funky Buddha and Four Corners — follows the exit of beer marketing lead John Alvarado, who left the company in early February.
Sabia, who had served as Constellation’s EVP and chief marketing officer since 2018, had been providing guidance and strategic direction to the company’s beer marketing efforts following Alvarado’s departure after 14 years. Sabia will now be responsible for leading the beer division’s operations, and commercial business functions. He has spent 14 years with the company and served as CMO of Constellation’s beer division in 2009 before taking the CMO role eight years later.
Monteiro is once again taking on an expanded leadership role within the company and continues a rapid ascension in the beverage alcohol giant after joining the company five years ago as VP of beer innovation. She will now assume responsibility of Constellation’s digital initiatives, including “digital marketing, three-tier e-commerce and Constellation Ventures,” the company’s investment arm into start-ups in the bev-alc space and emerging categories. In October 2019, the company named her EVP and chief growth and strategy officer.
Constellation credited Monteiro with leading the development of Corona Hard Seltzer and being the “driving” force behind its Focus on Female Founders program, which has a goal of investing $100 million in female-founded and female-owned start-up bev-alc companies by 2028.
“We must be agile to stay ahead of shifting consumer behavior,” said Monteiro. “This requires us to continue building an organization with best-in-class capabilities to anticipate, meet and engage with consumers where they’re headed, whether that’s in digital channels or by exploring disruptive brands in emerging categories. I’m excited to work with our teams to drive our big ambitions in these areas.”
Constellation said the CMO role “will remain open in the near-term,” but the company will look to fill the position in the future.