Beverage alcohol distributor Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has promoted Michael Thompson to the role of EVP and GM for Indiana.
Thompson will be responsible for the company’s performance in the state and reports directly to Mike McLaughlin, president for the central region. Thompson is filling the role of Richard Crossland, who will retire in the first quarter of 2020.
“Michael is a proven business executive with a consistent track record of driving sales and executing for our suppliers and customers,” McLaughlin said. “I’m confident that his skills and experiences will enable him to further build upon our growth and continued success in Indiana.”
McLaughlin continued, “I also want to thank Richard for his many years of dedication to the company and for actively working alongside Michael to ensure a smooth transition in the market. This process and Michael’s subsequent promotion illustrates our ongoing commitment to succession planning, career development and cultivating our outstanding internal talent.”
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is a multi-generational, family-owned company with operations in 44 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, Canada and the Caribbean.
Thompson has been in the beverage and hospitality industry for nearly 30 years and most recently held the role of VP for commercial operations for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits in Illinois.
He has been with the company for 15 years in various leadership roles in Illinois. Prior to joining Southern Glazer’s, Thompson was in sales leadership for Millenium Brands LTD and Millenium Import LLC, in addition to holding other positions in the beverage industry with companies such as Romano Brothers Beverage Co. and E&J Gallo Winery.
Thompson has an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant and institutional management from Michigan State University.
“Michael has excelled in every role he has held with the company, and we are confident he will build on the great foundation Richard and the team have laid in Indiana,” said Brad Vassar, COO.
