MGP Ingredients Adds Clahane for National Accounts, Chen for Penelope Bourbon

MGP Ingredients, Inc. announced four strategic leadership appointments to strengthen its commercial and marketing excellence across the enterprise.

• Tom Neiheisel joins as vice president, distilling solutions sales. He previously held senior leadership positions at Pernod Ricard USA, Diageo and Brown-Forman across multiple functional areas, including bulk sales, contract distillation and operations. At MGP, he will lead the Distilling Solutions commercial organization, overseeing sales strategy, customer engagement and business development.
• Sol Clahane will lead both on- and off-premise national chain sales across MGP's branded spirits portfolio as managing director, national accounts. She brings more than 30 years of commercial leadership experience in the beverage alcohol industry, including senior leadership roles at Pernod Ricard USA and Brown-Forman.
• Marilyn Chen joins as brand director for Penelope Bourbon. She previously worked with spirits brands such as Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Basil Hayden and premium Japanese whiskies, where she led integrated marketing, innovation and brand strategy. In her new role, Chen will oversee the strategic vision for Penelope Bourbon, lead brand marketing and innovation, expand the brand ambassador program and help build new marketing capabilities on her team.
• David Sanders as vice president of financial planning & analysis. He previously held senior leadership positions at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, PepsiCo and Bimbo Bakeries, where he led financial planning, performance management and business transformation initiatives.