Suntory Oceania has announced Dai Minato as CEO of Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania, effective April 2025.
A highly respected leader in the global beverage industry, Minato has been a key architect in shaping Suntory’s global business across the Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific and U.S. markets.
Minato will join Mark Hill, managing director of Suntory Global Spirits Oceania, in leading the NZD three billion multi-beverage business as it has prepared to go live in mid-2025 and entered a new era of growth in Australia and New Zealand.
Most recently, he led the strategic agenda and expansion of the business outside of Japan as Chief Strategy and Finance Officer at Suntory Beverage & Food International.
"Dai's appointment marks the next era for Suntory in Oceania as he leads the company’s bold growth plans in Oceania. I have every confidence he will empower the team to ignite the local market and achieve our enormous growth potential,” said Jahanzeb Khan, CEO of Suntory Beverage & Food Asia Pacific.
Minato has a close understanding of both the non-alcohol and alcohol sectors. Earlier in his career, he was a part of the acquisition and integration team for Beam Inc. (now Suntory Global Spirits), later leading the strategy and corporate development function in Chicago for more than five years.
“I am honoured to join the team in Oceania as we become the region's newest multi-beverage player. Our business is anchored in our 125-year-old history, extraordinary craftsmanship, 40 market-leading brands and most of all, our driven and diverse team," said Minato.
Darren Fullerton, who announced his retirement in December 2024, will support the final stages of the creation of Suntory Oceania as a strategic advisor.
The NZD three billion Suntory Oceania partnership will bring together the end-to-end manufacturing, sales and distribution of Suntory's licensed and non-alcohol portfolios. It will officially go live in Australia in July 2025 and New Zealand in January 2026.
In preparation, Suntory Oceania has announced a national recruitment drive for 80 new roles in its dynamic licensed route-to-market team. The new territory manager positions will be based in Australia and will be essential in representing the premium alcohol portfolio.
