Following the recent announcement of Suntory Oceania, a new $3 billion multi-beverage partnership between Beam Suntory and Frucor Suntory, the group has appointed Gordon Treanor as Licensed Sales Director for Australia.
Mr Treanor will establish and lead the Alcohol Route to Market team, a new unit dedicated to executing sales, channel, and customer growth strategies in the Australian market. The appointment holds strategic significance as Suntory Oceania gears up to become the “fourth-largest” beverage group in Australia and New Zealand by mid-2025.
“With an iconic portfolio of over 40 market-leading brands, the new partnership is poised to disrupt the beverage industry by offering a unique multi-beverage portfolio designed to delight customers and consumers in more moments from sunrise to sunset.
“At the core of the partnership is a new $400 million cutting-edge manufacturing and distribution facility in Ipswich, Queensland. This represents the largest FMCG investment in Australia in the last decade and will enable Suntory Oceania to own its supply chain from end-to-end unlocking capacity and capability.”
Mr Treanor brings a wealth of experience and industry insight with over 25 years in the international beverage sector. Notably, he played a pioneering role in establishing Lion’s global drinks business in Europe and Asia. As the Managing Director for Lion – Europe and APAC, Mr Treanor successfully integrated three businesses to deliver a platform to service beer, wine, and spirit brands.
In addition, Mr Treanor has held several Board roles for notable companies such as Heaps Normal, Remedy Drinks, and Schibello Coffee Group. These roles underscore his versatile leadership and strategic agility across a range of beverage groups.
Under the Suntory Oceania partnership, Mr Treanor will partner Beam Suntory Oceania Managing Director Mark Hill, and Frucor Suntory Oceania Chief Commercial Officer Drew Fairnham to establish and deliver a brand-new alcohol commercial function.
“The next few years are going to be truly transformational for Suntory and for the ANZ beverage industry more broadly,” Treanor said. “I’m excited to hit the ground running and to have the opportunity to build a best-in-class team as we work to become a $3 billion multi-beverage powerhouse by mid-2025”, Mr Treanor said.
Beam Suntory Oceania Managing Director Mark Hil says: “Gordon’s extensive industry expertise and unwavering enthusiasm for our One Suntory vision make him the ideal choice to lead the Licensed Sales Team. We look forward to his fresh perspective and industry acumen as we embark on this next chapter.”
Frucor Suntory Oceania CEO Darren Fullerton says: “As we build the Suntory Oceania partnership, Gordon’s appointment marks an important milestone in our transformation. His wealth of experience and proven track record will be instrumental in driving the success of our licensed sales strategy. We believe that under Gordon’s guidance, our licensed team will be a driving force in the Aussie beverage industry.”
Working closely with the Beam Suntory team, Mr Treanor will report to Frucor Suntory Oceania Chief Commercial Officer Drew Fairnham.