Christopher Meola
Fort Lauderdale
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience in the wine and spirits industry, successfully driving brand strategy and delivering a revenue increase across on and off premise channels. Expertise in budget management and team leadership, with a strong focus on developing KPIs and enhancing stakeholder engagement. Proven ability to navigate competitive markets and achieve commercial success.
Passionate Director of Advocacy known for high productivity and efficient task completion. Specialize in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and brand analysis. Excel in communication, leadership, and problem-solving to drive advocacy efforts and influence change.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
2011
2011
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Advocacy Manager
E&J Gallo Winery, Spirits Division
03.2022 - 02.2025
- Executed the business development strategy for New Amsterdam, Ron del Barrilito, RumChata, RunHaven and High Noon through On-Off premise execution initiatives.
- Manage and maintain relationships with our agency partners responsible for activation of our street team efforts.
- Train, coach and develop 6 direct ambassador reports focused on driving brand awareness and trade reach.
- Provide directional input on key advocacy strategies that will drive commercial success in high growth markets.
- Manage a 5-million-dollar A&P budget.
- Help develop brand strategy on both ABL and channel activity for emerging spirits brands.
Region Director, SouthEast
Moët Hennessy
01.2020 - 03.2022
- Develop incremental programs with RBM’s to help specialists drive marque attainment through strategic activations.
- Strategic planning around local market rollout, execution, and communication of all MHUSA MHP’s to the specialists.
- Research and develop quarterly KPI strategies with quantifiable goals to increase on & off premise case velocity and revenue life in specialist accounts.
- Manage and motivate 16 direct reports and provide a clear vision and mission around achieving full year and quarterly key objectives.
- The team had a On Premise revenue lift of 17% in specialist accounts, vs a goal of 6% in 2020.
- Achieved 2020 targets in applicable markets on case and menu placements goals for Q4 Volcan de mi tierra boost program.
- Identify key local market opportunities to implement and activate MHP programs for heighten commercial success.
- Develop and maintain detailed monthly financial statements and complete quarterly reconciliations for the region.
- Track and analyze specialist execution of activation tools and resources provided from DPM & RBM team.
Region Manager, Southeast
Moët Hennessy
05.2016 - 12.2019
- Managed, motivated, and coached 22 Portfolio and Champagne Specialists across the Southeast Region.
- Team grew MH portfolio by 12% across the region in specialist accounts, vs over region growth of 4% in 2019.
- Researched and developed quarterly KPI’s to help achieve MHUSA commercial sales goals.
- Distributor management consisting of fostering collaboration with the specialist team to help achieve MHUSA goals.
- Managed team’s region budget of 2MM per year, coming in on target or under budget from 2016-2019.
- Identify key POSM needs from the specialist team to help drive commercial success and communicate back to BDM’s.
- Program recaps of all ROI achieved around local market incremental specialist programming.
On Premise Specialist
Diageo
FL
01.2015 - 05.2016
- Build and grow Diageo brands on premises through a targeted set of KPI’S.
- Inspire and create brand advocacy amongst CPWS distributor teams through work with’s and monthly sales manager meetings.
- Conduct weekly consumer activation programs to create case velocity and drive visibility to core brands.
- Capture new menu placements, cocktail features and conduct weekly staff trainings with the trade.
- Managed yearly activation budget of 130k and assess ROI as it pertains to my territory.
- Effectively helped lift collective sales growth on Ketel One, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, and Smirnoff by +7%.
Campari Experiential Program Manager
BFG Communications
FL
07.2010 - 12.2014
- Managed 25 part-time ambassadors and two full-time market managers.
- Responsible for weekly reconciliation of market goals, payroll, and all other necessary HR duties.
- Developing monthly consumer insight reports to build strategic marketing plans to achieve various client goals.
- Weekly nightly audits, prospecting for new accounts, client to client relationship building and retention.
- Conducting monthly business reviews to showcase programs strengths and areas of opportunity.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Communications
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FLSkills
- Brand strategy
- Budget management
- Market analysis
- KPI development
- Sales forecasting
- Team leadership
- Project management
- Data analysis
- Performance metrics
- Training and coaching
- Stakeholder engagement
- Media relations
- Effective communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Time management
- Communication
- Analytical thinking
- Goal setting
- Business development
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Strategic planning
- Performance evaluation
- Onboarding and coaching
- Team building
- Sales quotas
- Sales presentations
- Public speaking
- Presentations
- Performance reviews
- Account management
Certification
- WSET Level II
- The Rum University 101
- Tahona Society 101
Languages
- Italian, Intermediate
- Spanish, Intermediate
- 5
- 1
- 1
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Advocacy Manager
E&J Gallo Winery, Spirits Division
03.2022 - 02.2025
Region Director, SouthEast
Moët Hennessy
01.2020 - 03.2022
Region Manager, Southeast
Moët Hennessy
05.2016 - 12.2019
On Premise Specialist
Diageo
01.2015 - 05.2016
Campari Experiential Program Manager
BFG Communications
07.2010 - 12.2014
Bachelor of Science - Communications
University of Central Florida