Niall Meade

Experience

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  C&C Group

  Sept 1993 - Aug 1994

  Marketing Executive (C&C International Global Graduate Program)

  Delivered Russian Spirits & Wines Market Report highlighting the growing importance of branding to Russian consumers, with specific portfolio prioritization recommendations.

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  Allied Domecq

  Sept 1994 - Feb 1999

  International Management Program

  • Wholesale & On-Trade Channel Efficiency Projects Eastern Europe: Croatia, Czech Republic (1997 - 1999): Change Management Lead & in-market Team Leader• International Brand Manager: United Kingdom (1996 - 1997): Project lead for Courvoisier Cognac's global packaging launch• Business Development Manager: Thailand (1995 - 1996): On-Trade & International Accounts management• Investment Project Manager: Russia (1994 - 1995): Stolichnaya Vodka brand rights acquisition project

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  Irish Distillers

  Feb 1999 - May 2005

  Regional Manager - International Division

  Responsible for global brand strategy implementation and profit delivery for Western Europe markets of France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland• Consistent annual double digit profit growth for Jameson & Bushmills whiskeys portfolios• Restructured Jameson global pricing strategy and imbedded pricing premiumisation strategy• Redefined the global Jameson market opportunities based on core brand development metrics, most notably highlighting the scale and early development stage of the US opportunity. Show less

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  Pernod Ricard USA

  May 2005 - Jul 2013

  • Delivered global profit delivery and global brand strategy implementation of the PR USA portfolio representing over US$40 million profit contribution & 650,000 cases, exceeding profit targets while growing volume over 13% per annum.• Fully responsible for P+L delivery, pricing, investment structures, contractual negotiations and set up of overseas bottling agreements. Established third party distribution contracts, such as introducing Seagram’s Gin into Spain and reaching over 100,000 cases annual sales. Show less

  • Director of Sales Planning & Operations - Wines & Champagnes

    Jul 2010 - Jul 2013

  • Director of National Retail Accounts - Wine & Champagnes

    Jul 2009 - Jun 2011

  • Export Director

    May 2005 - Jun 2009
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  Aer Rianta International

  Jul 2013 - Aug 2015

  Global Category Buyer

  • Global Purchasing Beauty Category leader to successfully win concession contract of Abu Dhabi airport Perfume and Cosmetics category valued over $70 million.• Established Global Buying structure introducing Sales performance and Margin comparison tools as well as defined group profit levers & goals. Directly managed key relationships with the leading global Perfume & Cosmetic Beauty suppliers.• Delivered winning Beauty category financial & design proposal for tender for the Auckland airport duty free store.• Led Asia Pacific and global beauty supplier negotiations and finalized both brand layout design and range assortment. Full responsibility and delivery of Sales & Gross Margin budgets valued at over $30 million.• Successfully opened Auckland airport store on time, within 6 months lead-time and financial targets. Show less

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  Calibri Consulting | Turning Disruption into Opportunity

  Sept 2015 - now

  Global Business Development Consultant

  • Whiskey sourcing & bottling for US & International brand launches, e.g. Four Walls Limited Edition 15YO & 5YO Whiskey Releases for the team of the TV show "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" • Business Advisor for Enterprise Ireland's Food Works program, Ireland's national Food & Drinks incubator program• Consulted Spirits principals on International expansion & new business development.• Purchasing Lead for opening a new build Travel Retail store in Riyadh Airport Terminal 5, Saudi Arabia. Over-achieved target, negotiated Gross Margin +3.5% points improvement vs. budget and exceeded Sales contracts by +$2 million while setting new supplier relationships. • Negotiation responsibility for over $25 million in Perfume & Cosmetic contracts for the new Muscat International Duty-Free. Show less

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  DramEx

  Nov 2020 - Mar 2022

  DramEx - Head of Brand Partnerships

  • Business Start-Up forging a Web3.0 marketplace based on Blockchain technology to allow individuals to directly invest and trade in ageing whiskey casks.• Achieved World’s first-ever Whiskey Cask sold via NFT ($100,000 on Open Sea, April 30th 2021)• Business successful sold to MetaDrink in March 2022.

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  MetaDrink

  Nov 2021 - Sept 2023

  CEO & Co-Founder

  • Forging communities & tribes in the metaverse for Alcohol Beverage brands.• MetaDrink helps drinks brands navigate the world of Web3 and NFTs.• Successfully acquired DramEx in March 2022.

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  DISTL - Distilling & Irish Spirits Trading Ltd

  Feb 2023 - now

  Co-Founder

  • 2024 sees Four Walls Irish American whiskey expanding across the US• Collaborating with several new-to-market Whiskey and Spirit brands providing grain-to-bottle solutions (Blending, Sourcing, Bottling, Logistics to market)