September 18/San Francisco/Business Wire -- Skyy Spirits LLC. promoted of Gerry Ruvo to chairman and chief executive officer effective immediately. Ruvo was formerly president and CEO. In addition to this appointment, the company has also created a new position of chief operating officer/chief marketing officer to be filled by Andrea Conzonato, who was most recently group marketing director for Skyy Spirits' parent company, Gruppo Campari in Milan.

Ruvo's career in the beverage alcohol industry spans more than three decades including 10 years at Skyy Spirits, where he assumed the role of president and CEO in 2005. Ruvo has led the San Francisco-based company to the position of tenth largest sprits firm in the United States. The Skyy Spirits portfolio has grown exponentially since the company's founding in 1992 and now includes 24 vodka, tequila, rum, aperitif, liqueur and whisk(e)y brands.

As the company's first chief operating/chief marketing officer, Andrea Conzonato will oversee sales, marketing and company operations, reporting directly to Ruvo. Tapped for his wealth of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, Conzonato's career includes positions in marketing, product development, supply chain, finance and sales. Prior to his role as Gruppo Campari's group marketing director, he held positions with Procter and Gamble, where he worked for 13 years in the U.S.. and abroad on a variety of high-profile international brands, such as Ivory Soap, Old Spice, Oral-B, Pantene, Max Factor and Noxzema. In his most recent role at Procter and Gamble, he headed up the Health and Beauty division in Italy.

"With Gerry's promotion to chairman and CEO and Andrea's appointment to COO/CMO, we look forward to the continued strong growth of our U.S. business," said Gruppo Campari CEO Bob Kunze-Concewitz.

TWith Ruvo's appointment, Skyy Spirits also announced that chairman Tony Foglio has stepped down from his current role to pursue other interests. Remarked Ruvo, "Tony has been a driving force behind the growth of SKYY Vodka and Skyy Spirits. I have known Tony for more than 20 years, and I will personally miss his exceptional business sense and sharp wit. The entire company wishes him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."

From the September 29, 2008, Prepared Foods e-Flash