Beam Suntory announced in October 2018 that current CEO Matt Shattock will be succeeded by Albert Baladi, currently Beam Suntory’s COO and President for North America, effective April 2019. As of April 2019, Shattock will have served as leader of the company for ten years, including five years since the Beam Suntory merger. Annual sales have grown to $4.3 billion from $2.0 billion during his tenure. According to a news release, under this succession plan, Shattock will remain a member of the Beam Suntory board as non-executive chairman and a member of the Suntory Holdings Ltd. Board, the Japan-based parent company. Baladi has served as Beam Suntory’s Chief Operating Officer and President – North America since late 2017. Previously, he led the company’s International region.