Campari Group appoints Simon Hunt as CEO to lead next growth phase

ITALY – Italian spirits giant Campari Group has named Simon Hunt as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 15 January 2025.  

Hunt, a seasoned executive with over three decades of experience in the spirits industry, will succeed interim co-leaders Paulo Marchesini and Fabio Di Fede, who stepped in following the resignation of Matteo Fantacchiotti in September after just five months in the role. 

Hunt’s extensive career includes leadership positions at Diageo, Pernod Ricard, and William Grant & Sons, where he served as CEO for nearly five years.  

Most recently, he held the CEO position at Catalyst Spirits, a global spirits incubator responsible for brands like Howler Head. 

Campari Group’s chairman, Luca Garavoglia, expressed confidence in Hunt’s ability to steer the company forward. “His proven and extensive industry experience and leadership in building and scaling premium and luxury brands on a global scale will be instrumental as he leads Campari Group through its next phase of growth,” Garavoglia said. 

Hunt’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Campari, as the company transitions to a “Houses of Brands” operating model while focusing on its core portfolio.  

In October, the Aperol producer announced plans to cut costs and divest non-core brands to streamline operations. This strategy aligns with Campari’s decision to unwind its minority stake in Catalyst Spirits, which it acquired partially in 2022 to secure distribution rights. 

In his statement, Hunt praised Campari’s legacy and vision: “During my more than three decades of experience within the spirits industry, I have always held Campari Group in the highest regard for its unique history, strong portfolio of iconic brands, company culture, and continuous outperformance and stellar growth story.” 

Despite growth challenges, Campari’s net sales for the third quarter ending 30 September rose 1.4 percent year-on-year to €753.6 million (US$816.3m), although organic sales declined by 1.4 percent.  

Over the first nine months of 2024, sales grew by 3.4 percent to €2.28 billion (US$2.4B), but adjusted EBIT decreased by 4.1 percent to €499.4 million (US$526M). 

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