Smits in as Evian Marketer

Brandweek,  July 3, 2000  by Gerry Khermouch

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Great Brands of Europe continues to fine-tune its marketing structure under new president/CEO Jim Stevens, bringing in a Paris-based exec and Heineken and Coca-Cola veteran, Conrad Smits, as vp-marketing for the burgeoning portfolio of brands in North America.

Smits fills a spot at the Stamford, Conn., headquarters vacated by Mark Koide only days after he was elevated to vp-corporate retail marketing (Brandweek, June 26). Koide is believed to be leaving for an entrepreneurial venture. The portfolio includes Evian, Volvic, Dannon and the recently added Naya.

Smits had spent the past three years at parent Danone Group's Paris headquarters as marketing director for the World Water division, after working at Heineken and Coke. He'd worked in four different countries during his eight years at Coke, including a period in Atlanta with global brand management responsibility for Sprite and most recently a period in Turkey where he helped establish relationships with fast feeders Burger King and McDonald's.

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