Campari Group has nominated Simon Hunt as Chief Executive Officer, following a comprehensive selection process overseen by the company’s Remuneration and Appointment Committee, Leadership Transition Committee and Board of Directors.
In accordance with Dutch law, Hunt’s appointment will be formalised during the ad hoc General Meeting scheduled for 15 January, after which he will officially take up his role.
He will succeed ad interim co-CEOs Chief Financial and Operating Officer Paolo Marchesini and Chief Legal and M&A Officer Fabio Di Fede.
Hunt, a seasoned industry veteran with over 30 years’ experience in the premium and luxury spirits sector, has a proven track record in driving brand growth and business performance, particularly in key markets such as the USA.
His expertise spans international and emerging markets, where he has successfully developed and scaled infrastructure and brands across spirits categories and markets.
Campari Group Chairman Luca Garavoglia commented: “We are delighted to welcome Simon as the new Chief Executive Officer of Campari Group. His proven and extensive industry experience and leadership in building premium and luxury brands on a global scale will be instrumental as he leads Campari Group through its next phase of growth.
“I am confident that Simon’s background, personality, energy, leadership and drive will take Campari Group to new heights as we continue to execute our growth strategy and evolve into our new Houses of Brands operating model.
“I want to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to Paolo Marchesini and Fabio Di Fede for their commitment in their role as interim Co-CEOs, ensuring a successful governance transition, and for their continuous support in working with Simon and ensuring a smooth handover,” Garavoglia added.
“I would also like to sincerely thank the Leadership Transition Committee, which has been chaired by non-executive Director Bob Kunze-Concewitz, the Remuneration and Appointment Committee and the entire Board of Directors for their active role and invaluable advice in the selection process.”
Notably, Hunt spent 14 years at William Grant & Sons. His tenure included working as President and Managing Director of North America, Chief Commercial Officer and then Chief Executive Officer from 2016 to 2020. During this period, he spearheaded strategic initiatives focused on infrastructure scalability, premiumisation and market diversification.
Prior to his time at William Grant & Sons, Hunt held key roles at Diageo, Allied Domecq and Pernod Ricard. He was Vice President of Global Smirnoff Marketing and Senior Vice President of Global Innovation and Executive Vice President of Marketing North America for Allied Domecq, before serving as CEO and President of Malibu-Kahlua International at Pernod Ricard.
More recently, Hunt was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst Spirits in 2022, a global spirits incubator where he led innovation for ‘digitally native’ premium spirits brands. Catalyst Spirits develops Howler Head bourbon, in which Campari Group acquired a minority stake and distribution rights in 2022. This is in the process of being unwound given Campari Group’s focus on its core priority brands.
Commenting on his appointment, Hunt said: “During my more than three decades of experience within the spirits industry, I have always held Campari Group in the highest regard for its history, strong portfolio of brands, company culture and continuous outperformance and stellar growth story.
“I am honoured and excited to take on this extraordinary opportunity and I look forward to working with Campari Group’s talented leadership team and organisation to continue to build on the company’s heritage and success built over the past decades, and to take Campari Group’s potential and growth ambition to its next level.” ✈
