Australian-owned beverage company Blue Sky Drinks Co has appointed Paul Slaughter as its new CEO, effective this week.
The appointment comes following a recent merger of Gravity Drinks Co and Top Shelf International, and the newly launched Australian Agave spirit brand Sollos.
“It’s been a huge six months since the merger, and we’ve achieved an enormous amount in that time, reducing $10 million of our cost base and increasing active outlets by 50 per cent,” said Mick Spencer, Blue Sky Drinks Co founder and chairman.
Slaughter enters the role with more than 20 years of executive experience within the Australian food, beverage, and consumer goods sectors.
His previous positions include being CEO at Harvest Road Group and Mrs Mac’s. Before that, Slaughter held senior management roles at Metcash, Campbell Arnott’s, Procter & Gamble, Redisland Australia, Amberley Estate, and Steller Distribution.
Spencer said that appointing a new CEO will enable the company to focus on customer development, improve operations, and enhance its operational systems. The executive transition coincides with several operational updates across the company’s product portfolio.
The launch of its agave spirit brand, Sollos, will offer a visitor cellar door at its 1000-acre agricultural property near Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays, which contains 580,000 blue Weber agave plants.
Meanwhile, the company’s RTD brand, Gravity, established a marketing partnership with cricketer Travis Head earlier this year.
The portfolio’s whisky brand, Ned, recently expanded its commercial distribution across Sodexo mining sites, while the company prepares to release a new whisky-flavoured liqueur under its Bickie label, available in 50ml.
