Beam Suntory Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Victoria Russell has been appointed as Vice Chair of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee established by The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

The DEI Committee will identify and define both immediate and long-term actions that DISCUS member companies will lead as the industry continues to elevate and enhance efforts to build more diverse, equitable, and inclusive opportunities and career paths, both now, and for the next generation of spirits industry professionals.

Leading diversity and inclusion across Beam Suntory

Victoria's professional experience and achievements make her well-placed to serve in this leadership role.

Part of Beam Suntory's Senior Leadership Team, Victoria leads diversity and inclusion across talent acquisition, career development and employee retention, marketing, community relations, and building organizational capability to better recognize bias and further drive inclusive mindset. She also supports the development of diversity guidelines for the company’s supplier base and champions Employee Impact Groups and leaders across the business.

Before joining Beam Suntory, Victoria had a successful 14-year career at Papa John’s International, ultimately stepping up during difficult times in 2018 to become the first to lead Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. In that role, she was credited with step-changing the company’s actions to build a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization. Victoria previously held marketing analytics roles of increasing responsibility, providing valuable insights into the business, and the customers and communities they serve. Prior to Papa John’s, Victoria held compensation and marketing roles at Lexmark, Humana, and Brown-Forman and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and a M.B.A in Marketing from the University of Kentucky.

Victoria serves on several nonprofit boards including the Louisville Chamber, Leadership Louisville, Fund for the Arts, and the YMCA.  She has also received numerous awards including Woman Making A Difference by Louisville Business First, featured in Business Journals’ Influencers: National Rising Stars and selected as one of Louisville’s Forty Under 40. 

Other accomplishments include University of Kentucky Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award, founding member of the Adweek D&I Council and named of one the Adweek & Adcolor 2020 Champions of D&I.  Victoria was also named to the Executive Leadership Council, honored as a Muhammad Ali Center Daughter of Greatness and featured as Today’s Woman – Most Admired Woman.

Join successful women leaders like Victoria at Beam Suntory 

Beam Suntory women like Victoria have forged successful careers to become recognized leaders in their field.

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