Heineken USA has appointed its general manager for the Western Region, Ken Kunze, to the position of vice president, Marketing. He replaces Steve Davis, who left the company last month.

Kunze began his career at Heineken USA eight years ago as director of Marketing for the Heineken brand, with responsibility for all Heineken brand marketing activities. During his tenure in that position, he directed development of the brand's award-winning "It's All About the Beer" advertising campaign; established the first multicultural marketing effort for Heineken; and introduced the Keg Can, which has become the most successful can package in the imported beer segment. Kunze was named an Ad Age "Top 100 Marketer" in 2001.

In 2003, Kunze was appointed general manager of the company's Western Regional Business Unit, where he has been responsible for all sales and field marketing activities for the company in 13 western states. His key accomplishments in this position include leading his business unit through a major organizational restructuring and successfully integrating five FEMSA Cerveza Mexican beer brands into the Heineken USA portfolio -- a key objective for the western United States.

In announcing Kunze's promotion, Heineken USA president and CEO Frans van der Minne stated, "We are all very pleased that Ken has accepted this new challenge for Heineken USA. He brings to his new position not only deep marketing credentials, but also strong leadership skills and an acute awareness of the importance of integrating marketing and sales activities at the local market level."

Prior to joining Heineken USA, Kunze held a series of progressively senior beverage brand marketing positions at Cadbury Schweppes and PepsiCo.

Kunze graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and received his M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.