Beam Suntory has named Kim Marotta [pictured above right] as its first Vice President of Global Environmental Sustainability, and Rachel Roberts as its first Global Vice President of Consumer & Society Sustainability. These experienced leaders are each spearheading pillars of Proof Positive, Beam Suntory’s sustainability strategy, with long-term commitments to leave a positive impact.
“Proof Positive is our set of bold ambitions to secure a more sustainable and equitable future for our environment, our consumers and our communities,” says Beam Suntory President & CEO Albert Baladi. “We are proud of our commitments, and I am very pleased to have such strong leaders in place to advance this agenda, which is critical to our legacy and the future of our industry.”
Kim Marotta reinforcing Beam Suntory's nature positive commitments
Kim Marotta joins Beam Suntory after 17 years with Molson Coors Beverage Company, ultimately serving as Global Senior Director Sustainability and Enterprise Risk Management. She was an architect and leader of Molson Coors’ sustainability strategy across 14 countries, 29 breweries and 18,000 employees. She previously served for 13 years with the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, handling a variety of legal defense matters, including those relating to racial inequalities, and ultimately served as a Deputy State Public Defender.
In this new role, Kim will lead the ‘Nature Positive’ pillar of Beam Suntory’s sustainability strategy, which includes efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses by 50 percent across direct operations by 2030, support the ambition to remove more carbon than is emitted across the entire value chain by 2040, reduce water usage for every unit of production by 50 percent by 2030 and replenish more water than is used in direct operations to water sources by 2040. The company has also set ambitious goals to replenish forests, develop sustainable packaging, and more.
“Beam Suntory’s commitment to taking tangible and measurable action to support the environment underscores that this work isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s critical for both business and the planet,” Kim says. “I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues around the world to achieve our collective Proof Positive goals, and help to create a more sustainable industry from seed to sip.”
Rachel Roberts spearheading Beam Suntory's consumer positive agenda
Additionally, Rachel Roberts [pictured aboe left] will lead Beam Suntory’s ‘Consumer Positive’ commitments, including a $500 million investment in responsibility-led brand messaging, elevating the company’s Drink Smart platform, supporting evidence-based partner programs, providing consumer information on labels or online for all products, introducing new low- and no-alcohol products, and ultimately engaging more than 300 million consumers by 2030 with messages and tools to promote responsible consumption and reduce harmful drinking. Rachel's role is Global VP of Consumer & Society Sustainability.
Rachel brings more than 20 years of brand building, marketing, sales and innovation experience in the beverage, spirits, and wine industries to this role. She has held roles of increasing responsibility since joining Beam Suntory in 2006, including Vice President – Brand & Market Excellence, Vice President – Global Marketing Operations, and most recently, as General Manager – North America Marketing. In that role, Rachel led the North America marketing organization, driving Beam Suntory’s brand building and marketing agenda across the region.
Prior to Beam Suntory, Rachel held brand roles with Pepsi in Europe, and sales and marketing positions with Allied Domecq.
“I am so proud of the leadership role that Beam Suntory has played in responsible consumption, and the fact that it is absolutely fundamental to everything we do,” Rachel adds. “It’s incredibly exciting to elevate our commitment to providing consumers with tools and information to enable them to make the right choices for their own personal wellbeing.”
Executive leadership for diversity, equity and inclusion
Victoria Russell also joined Beam Suntory as the company’s first Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer (late 2020) and leads the diversity, equity and inclusion agenda central to Community Positive, the third pillar of Proof Positive.
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