Chester Brandes is President and CEO of Imperial Brands, Inc., a spirits and wine import company that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Belvédère S.A., owner of Marie Brizard. His responsibilities include setting the strategic direction and vision of this fast-growing importer and marketer of fine wines and spirits and overseeing its growth. Brandes is an industry veteran with 34 years of experience in both the U.S. domestic and international markets who brings passion, creativity and unparalleled commitment to his company's success.

Brandes' first goal is to successfully launch Sobieski Vodka, Poland's #1 premium vodka, in the American market and make it the fastest new vodka brand to achieve sales of one million cases in the U.S.

Until January 2007, Brandes was Vice President, International Markets at Cruzan, Ltd., where he conceived and executed the strategic plan for launching Cruzan Rum in the international marketplace over a five-year period. Moreover, he initiated and was the architect of the Cruzan relationship with Vin & Sprit AB, which eventually led to V&S acquiring 100 percent of the brand and the company.

A significant portion of Brandes' career (1988-2000) was spent working for the Altia Group, Helsinki, Finland, the owner of Finlandia Vodka. He was appointed President and CEO of Finlandia Vodka Americas (Altia's U.S. subsidiary) in 1989 and in addition to being accountable for all sales, marketing and brand profit in the Americas; Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East and global Duty Free were added to the scope of the New York subsidiaries' responsibilities in 1998. In this position, he played a major role in initiating a joint venture with Brown-Forman, creating a strategic partnership between brand owner and importer that was unique in the spirits industry. Brandes' input into the innovative Renaissance' program, which included the redesign of the Finlandia bottle, as well as the development of new image enhancing advertising, helped reposition Finlandia among the leading premium imported vodkas in the U.S.

Previously, Brandes was Managing Director of Sempe USA, where he successfully launched Sempe Armagnac in the U.S. and made it the number one selling premium Armagnac in the country. In 1978, Brandes became Western Division Vice President for Glenmore Distilleries, where he contributed to the growth of Amaretto di Saronno and Remy Martin Cognacs.

Prior to his work at Glenmore, Brandes worked at Monsieur Henri Wines (PepsiCo) where, in 1975, he helped engineer the successful launch of Stolichnaya Vodka in the Midwest. It was an era of strong anti-Communist sentiment, when all Soviet-themed products were taboo, but Brandes saw great potential in marketing this forbidden fruit; 10 years and one million cases later, he was proven correct. Brandes nearly became an attorney, but during his first year in law school, he took a part-time job bartending at the University Faculty Club and became fascinated by the world of spirits and cocktails.

He subsequently left law school, found work as a district manager for Schenley Industries in St. Louis, Missouri and earned a reputation as a brand champion who was able to sell the impossible. Brandes attended Emory University and received his B.A. in philosophy from Boston University in 1971. Brandes is married, has a grown son and resides in Tequesta, Florida. His hobbies include mountain climbing, skiing and tennis. He is conversationally fluent in German and Spanish. When in need of inspiration, he rereads the works of Ayn Rand, his favorite author.

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