Constellation Brands has appointed Alex Alvarez as senior vice president and chief supply chain officer for its beer division, bringing an experienced consumer goods and alcoholic beverage supply chain executive into a key leadership position.
Alvarez will officially take up the role on Sept. 14, succeeding John Kester, who plans to retire in November. He will oversee the end-to-end supply chain organization supporting Constellation Brands’ beer business, which includes well-known brands such as Corona and Modelo.
In his new position, Alvarez will be responsible for manufacturing, procurement, planning, logistics and distribution. He will report directly to Jim Sabia, executive vice president and president of Constellation Brands’ beer division.
The appointment was announced by Constellation Brands in an Aug. 25 press release.
More than three decades of supply chain experience
Alvarez brings more than 30 years of experience in operations and supply chain management. His background spans manufacturing, distribution, innovation, quality, sustainability and capital management, giving him experience across multiple areas of complex supply chain operations.
Before joining Constellation Brands, Alvarez spent three years as senior vice president and chief supply chain officer at Suntory Global Spirits, the company behind alcoholic beverage brands including Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark.
At Suntory Global Spirits, Alvarez was responsible for the company’s global supply chain, overseeing operations that included 18 distilleries across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe and India.
He’s been in the alcoholic beverage industry since 2007, when he joined Brown-Forman, the company that produces Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve. Alvarez was at Brown-Forman until 2023 and held a series of leadership positions during that time. This included eight years as senior vise president and chief production and sustainability officer.
Alvarez’s career also extends beyond the alcoholic beverage sector. He has held supply chain and operational roles in other areas of the consumer packaged goods industry, including at General Mills and Procter & Gamble.
“Alex is an accomplished supply chain executive with a proven track record of leading complex global operations, building high-performing teams, and delivering transformational business results,” Jim Sabia said in the company’s announcement.
Sabia added that Alvarez’s expertise in manufacturing, logistics, procurement and business transformation would help Constellation Brands further strengthen its capabilities and support its long-term growth.
Alvarez succeeds John Kester
Alvarez is taking over from John Kester, who has served as chief supply chain officer of Constellation Brands’ beer division for the past three years.
Kester initially joined Constellation Brands in a different leadership capacity and spent his first nine years with the company as senior vice president of operations services. In total, he has spent 12 years with Constellation Brands.
During that period, Kester played a central role in reshaping the company’s supply chain operations. According to Constellation Brands, he established a centralized procurement function, integrated key manufacturing assets and built a fully integrated end-to-end supply chain.
Sabia credited Kester’s leadership with helping drive the growth and evolution of Constellation Brands’ beer business over the past decade.
“John’s leadership has been instrumental in the growth and evolution of our beer business over the past decade,” Sabia said. “His vision, dedication, and commitment to operational excellence helped build the world-class supply chain organization we have today.”
With Alvarez set to assume the position in September, Constellation Brands will transition its beer supply chain leadership from an executive who helped build and integrate its current organization to a successor with extensive experience managing global manufacturing, logistics and supply chain operations across the consumer goods and beverage industries.
