Beam Suntory President and CEO Albert Baladi announced that he will transition CEO responsibilities effective Oct. 1 to Greg Hughes, the company’s current Senior Vice President Chief Growth and Brands Officer. Under this succession plan, Baladi will serve as CEO Adviser through year’s end and will be engaged as Senior Adviser for the company throughout 2024. Baladi has served on the executive leadership team of Beam Suntory for 12 years, including the past five years as President and CEO. Since he stepped into the CEO role in 2019, Beam Suntory’s annual sales have grown at high single digits to more than $5 billion. In addition, the company has significantly accelerated its premiumization trajectory, with premium brands becoming the majority of its sales. Hughes has more than three decades of experience in consumer goods across marketing, commercial and management roles. Since joining Beam Suntory in 2015, Hughes led the company’s largest market as President North America for four years and prior to that as General Manager of North America.