Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc Leadership

David Hunter is a Senior VP/Chief Supply Chain Ofcr at BEAM INC. He has worked as VP:Global Manufacturing at BEAM INC. David works or has worked as MEMBER at Institute of Brewing & Distilling and FELLOW at Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He studied at University of Glasgow.

Paula Erickson was promoted in 2014 to Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer of Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits that encompasses some of the industry’s most iconic brands, more than 20 production and commercial facilities around the world, and a global team of 4,800 employees. Reporting directly to the CEO, Erickson is a member of the executive leadership team and responsible for the company’s talent strategy, compensation and benefits, employee engagement, culture, diversity and inclusion, learning capability and organizational development to drive growth in all areas of the business.

Prior to her executive leadership appointment, Erickson served as Vice President of Global Communications and Public Relations (2009 - 2013) and Vice President of External Communications (2008). In her time at Beam Suntory, Erickson has been responsible for the company’s global human resources, internal and external communications, public relations, corporate social responsibility and media relations. Most recently, Erickson has led the people and culture integration of the business following Beam’s acquisition by Suntory Holdings.

Erickson has more than two decades of consumer and business-to-business marketing experience in both the retail and consumer packaged goods sectors. Erickson joined Beam Suntory following 17 years at Ace Hardware Corporation, a $4 billion international company with 5,000 retailers in the United States and 70 countries worldwide. At Ace, she held various positions with increasing responsibility in corporate communications, public relations and consumer marketing. From 2006 to 2008, Erickson held the top consumer marketing and advertising position in the company, serving as Director of Advertising and Brand Development, responsible for driving sales through the company’s national marketing, media buying, public relations and advertising initiatives.

Erickson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with minors in international relations and sociology from the University of California, San Diego. She resides in Long Grove, Ill., with her husband and three children.

I am currently employed with Alberta Distillers Limited in Calgary, AB, as the Steam Chief and Energy Supervisor. I am in charge of the operators who hold a power engineering certificate. I assist in production of alcohol through fermentation and distillation. I also monitor all utilities and energy consumed at our facility, maintaining a good working relation with Shell, Enmax and the city of Calgary. I work closely with maintenance for ongoing work and EH&S for safety and reporting, as well as ABSA for compliance, repairs of vessels and registration of vessels and piping.

I graduated Medicine Hat College with a Technology diploma and a 3rd Class Engineers certificate of competency. I worked in the oil and gas industry from 2010-2019, completing my 2nd class power engineering 6 years ago. All of my 9 years have been working with sour gas in natural gas processing facilities. I have experience with high pressure boilers, water treatment, steam driven turbines and small diesel power generators and synchroscope's. I have worked with waste heat steam generation as well as MCRC and superclaus sulfur generation. Working as a lead operator had me controlling boilers, natural gas processing and gas supply field/compressors from the DCS. Emissions monitoring, flare reporting as well as gas allocations and nominations were required for marketing and AER purposes. Through my career I have learned hands on skills in the gas plant as well as leadership skills in the control room. I work well under pressure and always keep a calm and collective mindset.

I am currently working on my 1st class ticket, with all steam time submitted and 1 paper completed.

Eduardo Bendzius is a Consultant at Amélie Consulting, Startup Investor at E Moving, and Startup Investor at Brasil Espresso Café and is based in São Paulo, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. He has worked as Business Consultant at Gpb Consultoria, Head of Diageo North/Northeast Business Unit at Diageo plc, and Acting Marketing Director at Diageo plc. Eduardo studied at Colegio Visconde de Porto Seguro between 1977 and 1987, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management between 1998 and 2000, and Haas School of Business University of California Berkeley between 2016 and 2016.

Gina Rossi is a Sr. Director, Global FP&A & Integration at BEAM INC; VP, Global Financial Planning & Analysis at BEAM INC; and Director, FP&A and Controls - North America Commercial at BEAM INC and is based in Chicago, Illinois. She has worked as Business Development Finance Manager, Cheese & Dairy at Kraft Foods Group; Procurement Finance Manager at Kraft Foods Group; and Director, Planning Project at BEAM INC. Gina attended Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management between 1998 and 2001, BUF COMPAGNIE between 1989 and 1993, and Carmel High School between 1986 and 1989.

Jun Asaki is Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer of Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits. In his role, Asaki has responsibility for corporate strategy, corporate development and Beam Suntory’s enterprise transformation agenda.

Asaki joined Suntory Group in 2021 as Deputy Division COO, Global Business Development Department. He joined Suntory from Mitsubishi Corp, where he served for more than 30 years in roles of increasing responsibility, in Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States, including General Manager, Head of Infrastructure Finance Department, Industrial Finance Division and Senior Vice President, Head of Industrial Finance & Development Group (Americas) and ultimately serving as Head of the Urban Development Group (Americas).

During his career with Mitsubishi, Asaki also spent six years at Lawson CS Card, including three years as President & CEO.

Asaki holds degrees from The University of Tokyo and INSEAD’s Advanced Management Programme.

Lee Wyattwork atBEAM INC and a CFO at BEAM INC and are based in Greater Chicago Area.

Linda Pleuger MBA is an Assistant to the CHRO and back-up support to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at BEAM INC and Assistant to the CHRO and HR Coordinator at BEAM INC and is based in Chicago, Illinois. She has worked as Corporate Communications Manager at BEAM INC, Columnist at Kenosha News, and Project Coordinator at Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc.. Linda studied at Columbia College between 2009 and 2014, Loyola University Chicago between 2010 and 2013, and University of Wisconsin Parkside between 2015 and 2019.

Mary Lou Skeens is an Executive Assistant to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at BEAM INC and is based in Deerfield, Illinois. She has worked as Executive Assistant at ghSMART, Executive Assistant at ACCO BRANDS CORP, and Executive Assistant at Indalex Aluminum Solutions. Mary studied at Mother Theodore Guerin H.S. and Business Academy of Virginia between 1988 and 1992.