Suntory Oceania has announced it is in the process of recruiting more than 130 roles for its new Australian sales team.
Licensed Sales Director Gordon Treanor is assembling the team, which will be responsible for bringing Suntory’s alcohol portfolio to market from mid-2025.
Treanor was hired in November 2023 to establish and lead the Alcohol Route to Market team, a new unit dedicated to executing sales, channel, and customer growth strategies in the Australian market.
Treanor has more than 25 years experience in the international beverage sector. He played a pioneering role in establishing Lion’s global drinks business in Europe and Asia. As the Managing Director for Lion – Europe and APAC, Treanor successfully integrated three businesses to deliver a platform to service beer, wine, and spirit brands.
Treanor has also held several Board roles for notable companies such as Heaps Normal, Remedy Drinks, and Schibello Coffee Group.
By July 2025 Treanor estimates nearly 150 people will have joined the Suntory Oceania Alcohol Route to Market team, which will be responsible for a portfolio of brands that includes Jim Beam, Canadian Club, Makers Mark, Suntory -196 and the iconic House of Suntory.
“Over the coming months I will be assembling a new sales team for licensed channels,” Treanor (above) said. “We will be looking to attract the very best talent in the industry, and we have already been inundated with interest from outstanding talent from across Australia and overseas. This also presents fantastic career opportunities for our current employees to build new experiences and really make a difference.”
Beam Suntory and Frucor Suntory announced they were merging to become Suntory Oceania in August 2023, a new $3billion multi-beverage partnership across the premium spirits and non-alcohol segments in both Australia and New Zealand.
Under the Suntory Oceania umbrella, it has created the fourth-largest ANZ beverage group in Oceania with full end-to-end control of its portfolio, including manufacturing, sales, and distribution.
Preparation are underway ensure the partnership is operational for mid-2025 in Australia and 2026 in New Zealand.
It includes the largest single FMCG investment in Australia in over a decade, the construction of a new $400 million, net zero facility in Ipswich, Queensland.
The team gearing up for non-alcohol production from mid-2024 and alcohol production from mid-2025. RTD products that will be manufactured on site include -196, Canadian Club and Jim Beam.
Brad Erceg appointed as Chief Commercial Officer
Suntory Oceania announced on 23 May 2024 that Brad Erceg would lead Australian and New Zealand sales teams as the company works towards the launch of its new $3billion Suntory Oceania partnership, alongside sister business Suntory Global Spirits.
Erceg (above) will have stewardship for more than 40 brands in market when the Suntory Oceania partnership is live from mid-2025 in Australia and 2026 in New Zealand.
Throughout his 18-year tenure with Suntory, Erceg has held roles including General Manager New Zealand and Sales Director
New Zealand.
Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania CEO Darren Fullerton said: “Brad’s appointment to Chief Commercial Officer and his arrival as an Executive Leadership Team member is a testament to his talent, leadership capability and future potential beyond Commercial.
“His leadership skills and commercial acumen are well known inside and outside of Suntory, and he brings a fresh approach to navigating complexity while delivering growth for the business, its culture and people. He is a true Suntorian who will be a key driver in bringing the best of Suntory to Oceania.”
Erceg said: “We have a clear vision of how Suntory can disrupt and ignite the beverage category across Australia and New Zealand. It’s a privilege to step forward and lead our amazing team through this transformation as we continue to deliver for our customers”.
Former Chief Commercial Officer, Drew Fairnham left Suntory in April 2024. Suntory Oceania thanked him for his contributions over the last three years.
“Drew leaves Suntory on a high having achieved 12 supplier of the year awards in 2023 with the team,” Suntory Oceania said.
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