Management Team

At Corby, all members of the executive team are experts in their field and inspire those around them to be their best. Collectively, the executive team has extensive experience in the alcoholic beverage industry, manufacturing and consumer goods and brings a global view to Canada’s leading distributor of premium spirits and fine wines.

  • Nicolas Krantz

    President, Chief Executive Officer

    Mr. Nicolas Krantz is the President, Chief Executive Officer of Corby, He was Chief Executive Officer of Pernod Ricard Winemakers, Spain from 2017 to 2020. Previously, He was the Chief Financial Officer of Pernod Ricard, EMEA & LATAM from 2012 to 2017 and Global Chief Operating Officer in Sydney from 2010 to 2011. He was also Chief Financial Officer of Pernod Ricard Pacific from 2005 to 2010. Nicolas held various executive roles with several Pernod Ricard affiliates and predecessor companies. He brings over 25 years of industry and financial experience to Corby. He has Master of Finance and a Bachelor of Economics degrees, from Sorbonne University (Paris).

  • Juan Alonso

    Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer

    Mr. Juan Alonso is the Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer of Corby. He has over 23 years of industry expertise with Pernod Ricard affiliates and predecessor organizations in Brazil, Chile, and the United States. Prior to joining Corby, Juan was the Chief Financial Officer of Pernod Ricard South Latam (Sao Paulo, Brazil), and prior to that, he was the Vice President of Finance and Supply Chain at Pernod Ricard Americas Travel Retail. He graduated from Fundaço Getulio Vargas in Sao Paulo with a bachelor's degree in business administration and a post graduate degree in finance.

  • Caroline Begley

    Vice-President, Marketing

    Ms. Caroline Begley is the Vice President, Marketing of Corby. She was Vice President, Marketing – Wines & Champagnes, Pernod Ricard USA from 2018 to 2020. Previously, Ms. Begley was the Brand Director – Prestige Whiskies & Champagne, Pernod Ricard China from 2016 to 2018, and Brand Director – Whiskies, Pernod Ricard China from 2014 to 2016. She held various marketing roles in the Pernod Ricard group, having worked with both Brand and Market companies. She has an undergrad degree in History/Politics and a post-grad degree in International Business.

  • Valerie Brive-Turtle

    Senior Director, Communications, PR & SR

    Valerie Brive-Turtle is the Director of Communications, Public Relations and S&R of Corby Spirit and Wine Limited since 2017. Prior to joining Corby, Valerie worked at Marriott and Starwood Hotels Canada and Nissan Motor Company in the UK where she was in charge of Marketing and Communications. She has a Master’s degree in Law from Paris XI University and a Master’s degree of Economics from Sciences Po (France).

  • Stéphane Côté

    Vice-President, New Business Ventures

    Mr. Stéphane Côté is Vice-President, New Business Ventures, of Corby. He joined Corby in June 2006 as Sales Director for Ontario and then became VP of Sales. Prior to joining Corby, he worked at Pernod Ricard Canada, where he held the position of Director of Sales for Ontario. Mr. Côté has worked in various senior sales’ roles in seven provinces and has worked in the beverage alcohol industry for 27 years.

  • Sayali Deshpande

    Head of Supply Chain, Canada

    Sayali Deshpande joined Hiram Walker & Sons as a Senior Manager, Supply Chain Planning in January 2022. Sayali brings ample Supply Chain experience having held various roles within PepsiCo Canada and Target. She has a Master’s Degree in Commerce from University of Pune, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management.

  • Vanita Kakkar

    Senior Director, Human Resources

    Vanita Kakkar joined Corby Spirit and Wine Limited in June 2018 as Director, Human Resources, after spending several years working in Leadership Development and Human Resources Business Partner roles at Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws and Rogers Communications. Previous to that, Vanita worked as an Executive Coach and Consultant for several years in Queensland, Australia where she qualified as a professional coach. Ms. Kakkar has worked in various parts of Canada as well as internationally, and is a graduate of the York University with a Bachelor of Arts (Finance/Economics) and a Certified Human Resources Professional, in addition to having certified as a coach.

  • Ryan Smith

    Vice-President, Sales

    Mr. Ryan Smith is the Vice President, Sales of Corby. He was Director, Trade Marketing, Corby from 2018 to 2023. Previously, Mr. Smith was the Regional Sales Director, Ontario from 2014 to 2018 and Commercial Manager, LCBO of Corby from 2012 to 2014. He brings extensive commercial experience having served in various sales and trade marketing capacities. Mr. Smith graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance.

  • Marc A. Valencia

    General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Vice-President, Public Affairs

    Mr. Marc Valencia is General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Vice-President, Public Affairs, of Corby. Mr. Valencia also acts as Chief Privacy Officer of Corby. He joined Corby in 2004. Mr. Valencia was an associate at Shearman & Sterling LLP in Menlo Park, California, from 2000 to 2003, and at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Toronto, Ontario, from 1998 to 2000. He was a Senior Business Advisor at Arthur Andersen & Co. LLP from 1997 to 1998. Mr. Valencia was called to the bars of Ontario in 1997 and California in 2001. He received his ICD.D designation in 2009.

  • Nicolas Krantz

    President, Chief Executive Officer

    Mr. Nicolas Krantz is the President, Chief Executive Officer of Corby, He was Chief Executive Officer of Pernod Ricard Winemakers, Spain from 2017 to 2020. Previously, He was the Chief Financial Officer of Pernod Ricard, EMEA & LATAM from 2012 to 2017 and Global Chief Operating Officer in Sydney from 2010 to 2011. He was also Chief Financial Officer of Pernod Ricard Pacific from 2005 to 2010. Nicolas held various executive roles with several Pernod Ricard affiliates and predecessor companies. He brings over 25 years of industry and financial experience to Corby. He has Master of Finance and a Bachelor of Economics degrees, from Sorbonne University (Paris).

  • Juan Alonso

    Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer

    Mr. Juan Alonso is the Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer of Corby. He has over 23 years of industry expertise with Pernod Ricard affiliates and predecessor organizations in Brazil, Chile, and the United States. Prior to joining Corby, Juan was the Chief Financial Officer of Pernod Ricard South Latam (Sao Paulo, Brazil), and prior to that, he was the Vice President of Finance and Supply Chain at Pernod Ricard Americas Travel Retail. He graduated from Fundaço Getulio Vargas in Sao Paulo with a bachelor's degree in business administration and a post graduate degree in finance.

  • Claude Boulay

    Member, Board of Directors

    Dr. Claude Boulay (Doctor of Laws), is Corporate Secretary of Pernod Ricard Canada Ltd. and Director of Hiram Walker & Sons Limited, Gooderham & Worts Ltd., Allied Domecq (Canada) Ltd. and Seagram (China) Ltd. He has been a director of Corby since July 2008 and has been external legal counsel of many subsidiaries of the Pernod Ricard Group since 1996.

  • Lucio Di Clemente

    Chair, Board of Directors

    Mr. Lucio Di Clemente has been a director since November 2022. In 2009, he became a director at Chemtrade Logistics Inc. (TSX) and is currently their Corporate Governance & Compensation Committee Chair. He is also Board Chair for Spark Power Group Inc. (TSX). Mr. Di Clemente is a CA/CPA has an MBA from the University of Toronto, and holds an ICD.D designation as a professional corporate director.

  • Lani Montoya

    Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Pernod Ricard North America

    Ms. Lani Montoya is Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Pernod Ricard North America and a director of Corby since June 2021. She was Director, Global Talent Management, Diversity & Inclusion, Pernod Ricard S.A. Prior to that, she held various other roles within Pernod Ricard and Allied Domecq Spirits and Wines North America. Ms. Montoya graduated from the Fairleigh Dickinson University, with a degree in Business Management, and earned her master’s degree in leadership and Strategic Management from Manhattanville College.

  • Patricia Nielsen

    Chair, Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee

    Ms. Patricia Nielsen has been a director of Corby since November 2000. Ms. Nielsen was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Automobile Association, Niagara, and was the Chief Executive Officer of Maxxam Analytics Corporation, from 2002 to 2006. She was the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Capital IT from 1993 to 1999.

  • Helga Reidel

    Chair, Audit Committee; Chair, Independent Committee

    Ms. Helga Reidel has been a director since August 2021. Ms. Reidel is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Enwin Utilities Ltd.. She was Chief Administrator Officer for the Corporation of the City of Windsor from 2009 to 2016. Ms. Reidel is a Chartered Professional Accountant and graduated from the University of Windsor, with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and a Bachelor of Education. Ms. Reidel also holds the designation of ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

  • Kate Thompson

    Member, Board of Directors

    Ms. Kate Thompson is Legal Director for Pernod Ricard EMEA and LATAM and a director of Corby since March 2017. She was Legal, Corporate Affairs and Communications Director of Pernod Ricard Winemakers Pty Ltd. from 2010 to 2016, as well as Company Secretary from 2007 to 2016. Prior to that Ms. Thompson held various positions within Pernod Ricard Winemakers from 1998 to 2009.