UNION CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jack Brennan, Executive Vice President, General Manager of Southern Wine & Spirits of California (SWS-CA) — a division of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. (Southern), the nation’s leading wine and spirits distributor — today announced the appointment of Jim Andrus as SWS-CA Senior Vice President, General Manager of Northern California. In his new position, Andrus succeeds Steve Harden, who was named in November 2013 to the new role of Executive Vice President, Sales for the state. Andrus will report directly to Harden. Prior to this appointment, Andrus served as SWS-CA Vice President, General Manager of Central Valley.
Noting Andrus’ 30-plus years of professional experience and record of accomplishments, Brennan said, “With Jim taking over in Northern California from Steve Harden, I am extremely confident our entire team in the North will continue to deliver outstanding service and sales support on behalf of all of our supplier partners as well as for all of our on- and off-premise customers.” Brennan added, “Working with Steve, I know that Jim will maintain and enhance the operation and provide the highest levels of service excellence going forward.”
Southern Wine & Spirits of America’s Executive Vice President, General Manager Brad Vassar remarked, “On behalf of our senior management team here in Miami, I want to congratulate Jim. He is a consummate team player, and we are all confident Jim will build upon all the great work, growth and progress in our Northern California division accomplished under Steve.”
Andrus, who joined Southern in 1990 after stints at Heublein and Vintners International, concluded, “I am deeply honored by the confidence Jack, Steve and the entire California Leadership Team have shown me with this appointment, and I am thrilled and looking forward to working closely with all my colleagues, supplier partners and our customers in this new role.”
Andrus’ appointment is effective February 1, 2014.
About Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.
Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. (Southern) is the nation’s largest wine and spirits distributor and broker with operations in 35 markets. Southern currently operates in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Kentucky, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Southern also holds operating licenses and permits in Nebraska and Texas. On a national basis, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. employs nearly 14,500 team members. Southern urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information about Southern and its responsible consumption program, see: http://www.southernwine.com.
