TGIC Importers Announces Key Strategic Marketing Hires

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TGIC Importers, Inc., a leading wine importer, announced today two key new hires:  Joseph Granados as Vice President of Marketing and Diel McKenzie as Brand Manager.  Granados as the VP of Marketing is taking the helm of the TGIC marketing department bringing his impressive 360 degree skill set as a business leader to the company. By working with well-known and established brands as well as smaller incubator brands, Granados provides innovation, creativity, financial acumen and a strong sense of priority and urgency.

"Building a new Marketing Department to support how we see our business evolving over the next three to five years requires a specific set of professionals that possess both the skill set and experience to strengthen our brands," said Alex Guarachi, founder and CEO of TGIC Importers. "We took our time in putting our new team together, and we've selected the right people to ensure that our high standards in the wine industry are met with a strong marketing force," added Guarachi.

Joseph Granados, Vice President of Marketing, is a wine industry veteran with 35 years of experience in all aspects of the wine business. Granados began directly in the vineyard planting grape rootstock, which mimics his hands-on approach in on-premise sales, marketing, importing, and brand development. With extensive experience in creating successful programs, Granados has overseen the strategic planning, packaging development, innovation, and integrated research projects for some of the most elite companies in the wine industry, which include: Constellation, Terlato Wine Group, and Robert Mondavi. His global import experience has taken him to Italy, New Zealand, and Australia, where he has played a key role in branding and driving labels such as Ruffino and Kim Crawford. Granados is adept at strategic vision and approaches marketing with a long-term perspective keying-in on profit and brand equity drivers for each brand.

Diel McKenzie, Brand Manager, started his wine career in earnest by planting vineyards in Malibu and working the 1998 crush in Napa Valley.  Along with many years of experience working in the hospitality and restaurant industry, McKenzie gained distribution experience with Southern Wine and Spirits and Jackson Enterprises – Regal Wine Company. McKenzie then worked for Scott Street Portfolio, focusing on import wines, where he held the position of Sales and Marketing Manager.  In this position he imported and sourced wines from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Italy, created agency-owned brands, and worked to gain distribution across the country.

TGIC Importers, Inc. began 27 years ago as a wine import company with only a single Chilean winery in its portfolio. Their mission is to establish themselves as a leading international producer, importer and marketer of the finest wines of the world with a rich and diverse portfolio. Today, TGIC is proud to represent 18 brands from around the world as a national importer. Like all wines Chilean, TGIC's Alex Guarachi is spearheading what he describes as "the newest era in wine from the oldest vines in the world." Shown in TGIC's work, Wine Enthusiast Magazine announced TGIC Importers and Alex Guarachi its Importer of the Year 2010. For more information please visit www.TGICImporters.com. 

SOURCE TGIC Importers, Inc.