AMERICAS. Heineken has made two important duty free appointments in the Americas, with Ernesto Milan taking up the position of Duty Free Sales Manager – South America and Alex Godinez appointed as Sales Manager for the cruise channel.
In his new role, based in Monterrey, Mexico, Milan will drive the growth of the cornerstone Heineken brand, alongside the Mexican portfolio, as part of a committed growth across the Americas over the next 12 months, focusing particularly on the South American and border business.
Godinez will lead a specific approach to the cruise channel, an area in which the company believes there are “strong opportunities for portfolio growth”.
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Left to right: Carlos Candeias, Ernesto Milan and Alex Godinez | |
Heineken Global Account Manager Carlos Candeias said: “Building from a base of over 6% growth in the Americas in 2012, these appointments signal our determination to attack a number of key opportunities in our market.
“Our expanded team provides an enhanced focus on duty free, including added support for our customers, and we see exceptionally strong opportunities for growth in the cruise and border channels. We are set on a path to double our market by partnering with them in our passion for quality and innovation as we drive category growth together.”
Milan previously spent 12 years at CCM Mexico (Heineken Mexico), before joining Heineken Duty Free this year, and has worked extensively with the company’s Mexican portfolio, including Dos Equis, Tecate and Sol.
Meanwhile, Godinez has joined the duty free division from the company’s domestic business in the US. In his new role he will be based out of Miami.
Among the opportunities highlighted for growth in the region are the US-Mexico border, Panama and Uruguay. The company is also optimistic prospects, with a number of major sporting tournaments in the region of the next few years.
