PERNOD RICARD ELEVATES DANIEL FINKLER TO GLOBAL HEAD OF PORTFOLIO GROWTH

Pernod Ricard has elevated Daniel Finkler to Global Head of Portfolio Growth, tasking him with steering the Global “Gold” Business Unit strategy across Whisk(e)y, Champagne, and Cognac. In the role, he will align global and market strategies to accelerate sustainable growth, drawing on regional leadership and earlier commercial experience.  

Pernod Ricard has elevated Daniel Finkler to Global Head of Portfolio Growth, entrusting him with the mandate to shape and deploy the Global “Gold” Business Unit strategy across the group’s flagship Whisk(e)y, Champagne, and Cognac portfolios. The new role places him at the center of one of the spirits giant’s most strategic levers—fusing product architecture, premiumization, and long-term category value creation into a unified global approach. Finkler will steer portfolio and brand strategies across geographies, while driving deeper alignment between global Business Units and local Management Entities. The remit is designed to strengthen coordination between markets while providing senior leadership with sharper, data-driven pathways to sustainable growth.

The appointment reflects Pernod Ricard’s ambitions to future-proof its most valuable categories amid evolving consumer dynamics, shifting luxury demand, and fluctuating macro environments. Spirits companies are rethinking how their global brand ecosystems operate, balancing local responsiveness with brand consistency. With the rise of discerning consumers, demand for traceable craftsmanship, and heightened expectations around premium experiences, the integration of portfolio strategy at a global level has become a differentiating competitive asset for groups with multinational footprints. Finkler’s new role sits directly in this convergence, guiding how Pernod Ricard’s most culturally resonant brands compete and scale.

Before taking on the global mandate, Finkler served in leadership roles across the Middle East and Gulf, first as Marketing Director – Middle East and later as Marketing Director – Gulf covering the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Maldives, and SAARC. Across both assignments, he played a pivotal role in reinforcing brand leadership across growth markets that have become increasingly influential in shaping global consumption trends, particularly in luxury spirits. His regional tenure saw him lean into brand equity building, consumer experience, and market premiumization—areas that now inform his global perspective.

Prior to joining Pernod Ricard, Finkler gained early professional grounding outside the spirits industry. He began his career at HSBC Mexico as a Trainee, followed by a tenure at Bordtex S.A. de C.V. as a Management Assistant. During this period, he built foundational expertise in process improvement, risk analysis, supplier management, and international operations. These formative experiences enriched his commercial and analytical skill set, supporting his transition into global brand and portfolio leadership.

Finkler’s elevation arrives at a time when legacy beverage companies are intensifying their focus on global strategy to safeguard category value and unlock cross-market growth. For Pernod Ricard, a company known for championing a “Creators of Conviviality” ethos across distributed markets, harmonising global brand strategy without diluting local cultural connection remains a defining challenge. Finkler’s new mandate positions him as a bridge between strategic centers and operating markets—an increasingly crucial function as the spirits industry navigates a landscape where brand storytelling, luxury positioning, and market agility determine long-term performance.

Industry observers note that Pernod Ricard’s portfolio includes some of the world’s most iconic names across whisky, champagne, and cognac categories, and the consolidation of strategic stewardship into a global role suggests an intent to sharpen category coherence while scaling new opportunities. With Finkler now at the helm of portfolio growth, the business appears focused on fortified alignment and disciplined execution as the company looks ahead to its next phase of sustainable value creation.