SAN DIEGO, (April 11, 2019) – PRESS RELEASE – Cannabiniers, a global cannabis brand management company, has announced Marty Birkel as the company's newest board member. Former president of Ballast Point Brewery and 20 years of experience in global beer, wine and spirits with Constellation Brands, Birkel brings decades of knowledge focused on building brands, managing aggressive market expansion, marketing, operations and hospitality in support of adult beverages.
"In my 20 years at the forefront of the spirits industry, there have been few moments as significant as where we find ourselves today as the worlds of alcoholic beverages and cannabis merge. The innovators at Cannabiniers are truly at the forefront, and I'm thrilled to join them as a dynamic shift in the industry takes hold," said Birkel.
During his 20 years with Constellation Brands, Birkel served as Chief Global Sales Officer - Wine and Spirits, President of Ballast Point Brewing, President of Constellation Spirits and Executive Vice President of Barton Beers. He led a $70-million capital project, which expanded brewing production to Virginia, optimized Ballast Point's West Coast production footprint, and expanded restaurant/tasting rooms to Chicago, San Francisco and Disneyland. Over the past two years, Birkel was key in the Ballast Point acquisitions of Florida's second largest craft beer company, Funky Buddha, and Four Corners, a Dallas based dynamic and bi-cultural Hispanic and Anglo craft brand.
"This represents another meaningful and strategic step in a series of moves that will further build our company's Board of Directors and Advisors, enhancing strategic thinking, business integration, leadership, and brand strength," said Victor Jerez, president and chief operating officer of Cannabiniers. "Having held a variety of senior management positions and possessing well-versed knowledge of national and global beer, wine and spirits, Marty's addition to the board will function as a key driver to support the expansion of our national brewery acquisitions and operations, allowing us to fully reach national targets ahead of plan."
Cannabiniers continues to expand its advisory board and executive team with leaders who have a proven track record in the beverage space. Earlier this year, Cannabiniers announced the addition of former president of PepsiCo-East, Michael Lorelli, to its board.
