Keurig Dr Pepper Canada Appoints Knolly Smith as Vice President of Sales and Jean Gagnon as Vice President of Cold Beverages
Montreal, Québec, September 17, 2024 – Keurig Canada Inc., doing business as Keurig Dr Pepper Canada (“KDP Canada”), is pleased to unveil two significant leadership appointments: Knolly Smith has been named Vice President of Sales, while Jean Gagnon has been promoted to Vice President of Cold Beverages, effective immediately.
Knolly Smith is a high-achieving sales executive with over two decades of experience in the consumer-packaged goods (“CPG”) industry. Since joining KDP Canada in 2021, he demonstrated a passion for delivering tangible results, focusing on operational efficiency and growth across the Eastern Region. As Vice President of Sales, Smith will lead the entire Canadian At-Home Sales team, steering a cohesive strategy to meet our commercial objectives.
Jean Gagnon, who has been with KDP Canada since 2019, is stepping into an expanded role as Vice President of Cold Beverages where he will manage relationships with Canadian bottlers and oversee all ready-to-drink distribution partnerships. He will also continue to lead the marketing, omni-channel, revenue growth management (RGM), and partner functions for our cold beverage portfolio. Over the past five years, Gagnon has shown a profound commitment to our brands and a strategic mindset that ensures Canadian consumers have access to a KDP beverage for every need, anytime, anywhere.
In conjunction with these changes, Marc-André Vézina, currently General Manager of Van Houtte Coffee Services (VHCS), has been promoted to Senior Director of Sales for the Eastern Region. In this new role, Vézina will oversee Keurig Dr Pepper Canada’s sales activities within the Eastern Region, focusing on the Club, Convenience, and Gas sectors. Vézina, who has been with KDP Canada for over a decade, has held various roles including Director of VHCS Operations, Regional Director for the Western Region, and Senior Manager of Integrated Customer Solutions. His extensive experience and strategic acumen make him exceptionally well-equipped to drive growth and innovation in this pivotal role for the business.
“Our commitment to nurturing and advancing our internal talent is at the heart of our success. By recognizing and promoting from within, we empower our team members to reach their full potential, driving innovation and excellence throughout the organization,” said Olivier Lemire, President, Keurig Dr Pepper Canada. “As we continue to grow and enhance our portfolio, I am confident that our top beverage talent is perfectly positioned for ongoing success and leadership.”
About Keurig Dr Pepper Canada
Keurig Dr Pepper Canada is a leading beverage company, with a portfolio of more than 70 owned, licensed, and partner brands and powerful distribution capabilities to provide a beverage for every need, anytime, anywhere. We hold leadership positions in categories including coffee, tea, soft drinks, juice and mixers, and have the #1 single-serve coffee brewing system in the country. Our innovative partnership model builds emerging growth platforms in categories such as premium coffee, energy, sports hydration and non-alcoholic beer. Our iconic brands include Canada Dry®, Van Houtte®, Keurig®, Crush®, Dr Pepper®, Mott’s® Clamato®, Mott’s® Fruitsations®, Timothy’s®, Atypique®, and Snapple®. Driven by a purpose to Drink Well. Do Good., our 1,500 employees aim to enhance the experience of every beverage occasion and to make a positive impact for people, communities, and the planet. For more information, visit keurigdrpepper.ca and follow us on LinkedIn. To learn more about our commitment to corporate social responsibility, visit keurigdrpepper.ca/corporate-responsibility.
For further information:
Coralie-Jade Fournier
Manager, Corporate Communications
cj.fournier@kdrp.com