Campari America has joined the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

Diageo has appointed Ivan Menezes to the newly created role of chief operating officer. Menezes is currently president Diageo North America and chairman of Diageo Asia Pacific and Diageo Latin America & Caribbean.  He will take up the role on March 1, 2012.

Constellation Brands has named Jay Wright, currently president of its North American division, as its new chief operating officer (COO), effective immediately. In his new role, Wright will oversee marketing, sales and operations across the company. This is the first time Constellation Brands has appointed such a role and a statement from the company said “the creation of the COO role is the latest step in the company's evolution to further refine and streamline its organisation”.

Bill Samuels Jr is to step down as president of Maker’s Mark bourbon.