Friedman becomes director GTR at Absolut

Pernod Ricard has appointed Doron Friedman as director global travel retail at The Absolut Company. He started his new job this week, on January 1st.

With over 20 years of international experience, Doron has wide-ranging expertise in the global spirits industry, where he has assumed commercial, marketing and general management positions across numerous markets. 

His career has featured a string of successful accomplishments within both the duty free and domestic sectors. He joined Absolut seven years ago as area director for travel retail in the Americas and was most recently area director for Latin America/Caribbean domestic markets. 

“I look forward with great excitement to returning to the dynamic GTR market,” says Doron Friedman. “Our success throughout travel retail speaks for itself; we have pioneered the market and grown rapidly. It’s a great and exciting challenge to grow the business while providing the consumers with the unique experiences that only Absolut and its sister brands can bring to the table.”

Doron states a first vision for the future: “We will continue focusing on brand growth and brand evolution for the entire TAC portfolio through ongoing creativity, innovation, transformation and collaboration. With all the power and might of the global Pernod Ricard organisation behind us, there is no limit as to how far we can go.”

Doron will be operating under Darryn Hakof, VP brand development at The Absolut Company, adds: “We are very pleased to place the global travel retail operations in the hands of Doron Friedman, as he represents experience and continuity as well as new ideas and energy. With Doron on board, we are poised to continue pushing boundaries in the fast paced global travel retail market.”

3 January 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor