New president of Mark Anthony Brands in Canada

TORONTO—A man who spent years as a high level executive in the alcoholic beverage industry will become the new president of Mark Anthony Brands next month.

Rick Fitzgerald will take on the post May 7, working out of the company’s new Canadian headquarters in Toronto.

He will succeed Doug Goldsby who, after nine years as president and 13 years with the company, is moving to the new position of vice-chairman. His job will be to build up Mark Anthony’s agency business across Canada as well as developing new international business.

Fitzgerald has more than 27 years of senior management experience in the beverage alcohol business.

In 2008 he retired from his position of chairman at Diageo Canada, a title he took on in 2006 after serving as president and CEO since 1998, when United Distillers of Canada was merged with Gilbey’s Canada as part of the worldwide merger of Grand Metropolitan PLC and Guiness PLC to form Diageo. Fitzgerald had been president and CEO of United Distillers in Canada.

Most recently he was an executive group leader and coach with The CEO Global Network which helps entrepreneurs, presidents and CEOs to become more effective leaders.

Fitzgerald served two terms as chair of the Association of Canadian Distillers, now Spirits Canada.

The Mark Anthony Group of Companies was founded in 1972 by its current CEO, Anthony von Mandl.

It produces and distributes wine, beer and ready-to-drink beverages. Its most successful brand was Mike’s Hard Lemonade which helped provide funds for other ventures by von Mandle, such as the founding of Mission Hill Family Estate winery in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.

Mark Anthony also owns Stanley Park Brewery in Vancouver.

The company recently relocated its Canadian head office from Vancouver to Toronto, and U.S. operations to Chicago.