NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits, today announced that Sarah Langley has been appointed Senior Vice President, Chief People, Culture & Communications Officer, succeeding Paula Erickson, who will retire on April 1, 2024, following a successful 15-year career with the company.
“On behalf of Suntory Holdings CEO Tak Niinami and the Beam Suntory Board of Directors, I want to extend my sincere thanks to Paula for her many contributions to our business as we’ve evolved and grown over the past 15 years. Paula is a generous, passionate and people-centric leader who has had a tremendous impact on this organization, especially as we’ve undergone significant transformation as a company,” said Greg Hughes, President and CEO at Beam Suntory. “I’ve personally appreciated her partnership through the years and especially as I have stepped into the CEO role over the past several months.”
Erickson joined the company in 2008, leading Corporate Communications and Public Relations, and in 2014, following the acquisition by Suntory Holdings, she was tapped to join the executive team as Chief Human Resources Officer. During her tenure, the company experienced tremendous growth, with sales nearly tripled and the company’s talent pool growing from 2,400 to around 6,500 employees across 100 markets. Under Erickson’s leadership, the company has accelerated its diversity, equity and inclusion ambitions, step changed its benefits offerings, achieved “Best Place to Work” rankings around the world, adeptly navigated through the COVID pandemic and built a best-in-class Global Human Resources and Communications team.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the career journey I’ve had at Beam Suntory and could not have imagined all the accomplishments we would achieve together to grow our business and advance our special culture,” said Erickson. “I’m very thankful to Greg for his leadership and friendship, and I have great confidence in Sarah’s leadership as she takes the reins to lead the people-side of our business well into the future.”
With a career spanning 20 years at Suntory, Langley started in 2004 at Frucor, the company’s beverage arm in Oceania, where she ultimately served as Chief People and Communications Officer from 2008 to 2018. She was then promoted to Suntory Holdings’ Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Global HR, based in Tokyo, where she spearheaded the global talent agenda across Suntory’s companies. Since 2020, Langley has been serving in a hybrid Suntory and Beam Suntory role as Chief Operating Officer, Global People & Culture, and as Beam Suntory’s Vice President HR Asia Pacific, where she has been instrumental in building the company’s talent, capability and engagement in the region.
“Sarah is a strong and experienced leader who is well positioned to lead our People, Culture and Communications function as we position our company for continued growth and further our ambition to be the World’s Most Admired Premium Spirits Company,” Hughes added.
Langley will be responsible for the company’s global talent strategy, compensation and benefits, culture, learning capability and employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, organizational development and corporate communications. She will report directly to Greg Hughes and serve on the company’s executive leadership team.
A native of New Zealand, Langley earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Psychology and a Master of Arts in Industrial Psychology from Massey University in Auckland. She started her career in consulting with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Sheffield Limited in Oceania before joining Frucor. Langley will be based at Beam Suntory’s global headquarters in New York City.
About Beam Suntory
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires the brilliance of life by delivering great consumer experiences through its world-class portfolio of brands. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam®, Maker's Mark®, Basil Hayden® and Knob Creek® bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Teacher's, Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Beam Suntory also produces leading brands such as Courvoisier® cognac, Tres Generaciones®, El Tesoro® and Hornitos® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, Canadian Club® whisky, and is a world leader in ready-to-drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.
A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 countries, one of Beam Suntory's core values is Growing for Good and through its Proof Positive sustainability strategy, the company has committed to ambitious goals and investments to promote environmental sustainability in its operations, ensure the company has a positive impact on the communities where employees live and work, and programs to educate and inform consumers to make the right personal choices about drinking. Headquartered in New York City, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.
For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.
