WesBrands_Portfolio

At WES, we’re passionate about crafting high-quality spirits and empowering our team through employee ownership. By working together, we can create something truly special in the liquor industry. We prioritize collaboration, creativity, and innovation, allowing our team members to build compelling brands that leave a lasting impression with consumers.

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Chief Executive Officer

Adam Rosen
AR headshot w bottles WES
Adam Rosen

Adam is an accomplished sales and marketing executive with extensive experience in the spirits industry. He began his career by successfully scaling an on-premise marketing agency before joining Pernod Ricard USA in 2002. In 2007, Rosen transitioned to Diageo North America, leading the super-premium tequila portfolio, and later taking on leadership positions across the Scotch, Gin and Innovation categories. His visionary approach to brand development earned him the prestigious title of Diageo's "Most Inspiring Leader" in 2011. In 2012, Rosen joined Sidney Frank Importing Company as Executive Vice President, where he played a critical role in securing and developing the Casamigos Tequila brand. From 2015 to 2024, he served as the Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Casamigos Spirits Company, significantly contributing to the brand's extraordinary growth.

Board Members

Marshall Watson

Executive Chairman

MMW headshot
Marshall Watson

Executive Chairman

Marshall Watson is the Executive Chairman & Managing Member of WES Brands.

WES Brands was formed after Mr. Watson’s involvement in the transaction pursuant to which an investor group acquired Aviation Gin in partnership with actor Ryan Reynolds. In that transaction, Mr. Reynolds acquired an equity stake in the brand and agreed to serve as its Creative Director. Diageo, the world’s largest spirits supplier, agreed to acquire Aviation Gin in 2020.

Previously, Mr. Watson was the President of Direct Holdings Global, LLC (“DHG”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of dick clark productions, and a Principal at Mosaic Media Investment Partners (“MMIP”). DHG, a direct-to-consumer marketing and sales company, is best-known for its iconic “Time Life” infomercials featuring compilation collections of classic television, comedy, and music. DHG’s live entertainment division, StarVista Live, produced nearly a dozen music-themed cruises and land-based events ranging from The Soul Train Cruise and The Southern Rock Cruise to Abbey Road on the River, a prominent North American Beatles festival.

As a Principal at MMIP, Mr. Watson managed the initial acquisition of DHG from Reader’s Digest in 2012, as well as the sale of DHG to dick clark productions in 2014. In addition, Mr. Watson managed all MMIP non-control investments in sports, e-sports, gaming, media, and technology.

Mr. Watson also serves as the Executive Chairman of World Food Championships, the largest food sport event in the world, in partnership with IMG.

Mr. Watson began his career as an M&A and private equity lawyer at the global law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he represented clients such as One Equity Partners (the private equity arm of JP Morgan), Odyssey Investment Partners, Leonard Green & Partners, and Investcorp.

Mr. Watson holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Southern California, and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert J. Timlin, U.S. District Court, Central District, Eastern Division.

David Edwab

Chairman

David Edwab
David Edwab

Chairman

David Edwab is a seasoned entrepreneurial executive with deep financial and operational experience. He served as an executive, director, or advisor to numerous public and private companies in various sectors, including Men’s Wearhouse, Joseph Abboud, Joseph A. Banks, Aeropostale, Seven For All Mankind, Trans American Auto Parts, Stewart Weitzman, Vitamin Shoppe, Dimensions and Alexandra UK, Moores Retail Group Canada, New York and Company, Mr. Edwab was the principal partner in the formation of Aviation American Gin LLC, and BSB Brown Sugar Blend LLC.

Shelly Stein

Chairman

Shelly Stein
Shelly Stein

Chairman

Sheldon “Shelly” Stein served as President of Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits. Prior, he served as President and CEO of Glazer’s.

Before beginning his tenure with Glazer’s in 2010, Stein had been a Vice Chairman of Global Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch since March 2008. In this role, he served as Glazer’s lead advisor and worked closely with the Glazer Family and executive team, as well as its suppliers, on many strategic fronts.

Advisory Board Members

James Bareuther
James Bareuther
James Bareuther

Jim has over 35 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry and is the retired COO and Executive VP (1994-2010) of Brown-Forman, one of the world’s top ten wine and spirits companies headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.   Prior to joining Brown-Forman, he was Executive VP of Sales and Marketing of Seagram Classics Wine Company in New York and California (1984-1994). 

Rudy Costello
Rudy Costello
Rudy Costello

Rudy has twenty years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry, most recently serving as CEO of Stoli Group, a position he held since May of 2018.  Before joining Stoli Group Rudy spent ten years at Heaven Hill where he held several senior level positions across both finance and sales. Those included Finance Director the the East Region, VP sales for the NY Division, VP, sales for the Florida division, Regional VP for the East Region, and VP, General Manager for the SGWS Region. 

Chester Brandes
Chester Brandes
Chester Brandes

Chester Brandes is a spirits industry veteran with 40 years of experience in both the US domestic and international markets; he has consistently brought passion, creativity and unparalleled commitment to each of his successful business ventures.   Since the sale of Bulldog Gin to Davide Campari S.p.A.in March 2017, Brandes has been doing consulting as well as investing in a number of start-ups in the beverage industry.  

Jonathan Bonchick
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Jonathan Bonchick

Since 2002, Jonathan has held the positions of V.P./ Director of Buying & Merchandising for Duty-Free Americas, Vice President for UETA Inc. of Panama, and Executive Vice President for Innovative Liquors LLC. From 1993 until he joined Duty-Free Americas/UETA Inc., Jonathan held various positions within Brown-Forman Beverages Worldwide in the USA Domestic Market, Military & Transportation.  In Jonathan’s last position with Brown-Forman, he managed North America Duty-Free and the Caribbean.  Jonathan is a founding partner who legalized Lucid Absinthe, the first legal Absinthe in the United States in 95 years.  The company successfully sold Lucid to Hood River Distillers, Inc. in March 2013.  Jonathan is the 3rd generation of his family in the spirits industry.  He currently sits on the Board of Directors as an Advisor of ReserveBar, the largest luxury online marketplace for premium alcoholic beverages in the USA.  He earned a B.S. in Finance from the University of Maryland (1991) and an MBA in International Business from the University of Miami (1992).

Johnny Manuel
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Johnny Manuel

An accomplished wine and spirits executive with over 40 years of beverage alcohol experience retired from Brown-Forman in June 2022.  At Brown-Forman, he served as Director of Sales for the United States and Canada for 12 years and, prior to that, held numerous sales leadership roles in multiple regions in the US.      

He is regarded for extensive sales, territory, and distributor management experience with in-depth knowledge of distribution networks, supplier route-to-market strategy, and commercial strategy development. Known for coaching, developing, and motivating national and regional sales teams.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina and currently works with the Darla Moore School of Business as an advisor to the senior and MBA students.  M.B.A. from the University of Dallas. 

 

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