VICTOR, N.Y., July 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) (NYSE:STZ.B), a leading
beverage alcohol company, announced today that its board of
directors increased the size of the board from 10 to 11 members. In
addition, the board elected Susan Somersille Johnson, corporate
executive vice president and chief marketing officer of SunTrust
Banks, Inc., to serve as a member of the board, effective as of the
close of business on July 18, 2017.
A photo accompanying this announcement is
available
at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dfad4ec0-c876-49e9-9ff4-bc9f803b7cb1
"We're pleased to welcome Susan to the board of
directors," said Constellation's Chairman of the Board Richard
Sands. "Susan's deep understanding of brand strategy and marketing,
as well as her passion for technology, will make a great addition
to Constellation as we continue to build on the existing strengths
of our board and the company's leadership position in total
beverage alcohol."
Since August 2014, Johnson has served as corporate
executive vice president and chief marketing officer of SunTrust
Banks, Inc., one of the nation's largest and strongest financial
services companies, where she oversees the company's brand
strategy, corporate and line of business marketing operations, and
serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.
"I'm excited to join the board of one of the most
dynamic and successful total beverage alcohol companies in the
U.S.," said Johnson. "I have tremendous respect for Richard and Rob
Sands and the company they have built. I look forward to sharing
and contributing ideas from my own experiences, and collaborating
with and learning from the other board members."
Prior to SunTrust, Johnson led global marketing
for NCR Corporation, a world leader in consumer transaction
technologies, where she successfully developed a marketing strategy
that revitalized and repositioned the brand. She held positions in
customer marketing at Nokia, product planning and management at
Nuance Communications, and enterprise and retail product marketing
at Fujitsu. Johnson began her career with Apple as a product
manager where she developed the pricing strategy for new products
in Japan.
In 2017, Johnson was named one of the "50 Most
Powerful Women in Corporate America" by Black Enterprise Magazine, which honors female
African-American C-Suite executives from the top 1,000 publicly
traded U.S. corporations. She serves on the Board of Directors of
Wise Individualized Student Experience (WISE) Services, which
partners with high schools throughout the country to prepare
students of all ability levels to succeed beyond high school by
developing real world skills.
Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in engineering
sciences from Harvard University and an MBA from the Wharton School
of the University of Pennsylvania.
About Constellation
Brands
Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) (NYSE:STZ.B), a
Fortune 500® company, is a leading international producer and
marketer of beer, wine and spirits with operations in the U.S.,
Mexico, New Zealand, Italy and Canada. Constellation is the No. 3
beer company in the U.S. with high-end, iconic imported brands such
as Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra and
Pacifico. The company's beer portfolio also includes Ballast Point,
one of the most awarded craft brewers in the U.S. In addition,
Constellation is the world leader in premium wine, selling great
brands that people love, including Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois,
Kim Crawford, Meiomi, Mark West, Franciscan Estate, Ruffino and The
Prisoner. The company's premium spirits brands include SVEDKA
Vodka, Casa Noble Tequila and High West Whiskey.
Based in Victor, N.Y., the company believes that
industry leadership involves a commitment to brand building, our
trade partners, the environment, our investors and to consumers
around the world who choose our products when celebrating big
moments or enjoying quiet ones. Founded in 1945, Constellation has
grown to become a significant player in the beverage alcohol
industry with more than 100 brands in its portfolio, about 40
facilities and approximately 9,000 talented employees. We express
our company vision: to elevate life with
every glass raised. To learn more,
visit www.cbrands.com.