Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has announced that Rudy Ruiz, EVP of emerging spirits brands, has left the company to join industry innovator Park Street. During his 17-year tenure with Southern Glazer’s, Ruiz was responsible for curating and growing the company’s portfolio of craft spirits and emerging brands. His duties have been assumed by Ray Lombard, EVP of supplier management and business development.
“We brought Rudy into our organization because we knew his experience and expertise in brand building would provide great value to our suppliers,” said Harvey Chaplin, chairman of Dallas, Texas-based Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “We truly wish him all the best in his new endeavors and are confident he will continue to make a positive impact in our industry.”
Added Wayne E. Chaplin, CEO of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, “Rudy’s commitment to craft and brand innovation has helped us bring commercial success to many emerging spirits brands and we look forward to building on the excellent foundation that he established during his career with the company.”
“I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Chaplins and all of Southern Glazer’s,” Ruiz said. “My time at the company was tremendously fulfilling, and I value the many long-term relationships I’ve developed along the way. I look forward to continuing to promote innovation in the industry at Park Street.”
Ruiz originally joined Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits in 2003, after nearly 25 years in senior leadership roles with Bacardi USA. At Bacardi, his positions included president and CEO of Bacardi Asia/Pacific, president of Bacardi Global Brands and president and CEO of Bacardi USA.
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, a distributor of beverage alcohol, is a multi-generational, family-owned company with operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Canada.
Park Street is a solutions provider to emerging and established alcoholic beverage companies from the U.S. and around the world.
