Constellation Brands has announced that Bill Newlands will step down as President and CEO on April 13, 2026, ending his tenure at the helm of the U.S. beverage group that holds the American rights to Corona Extra and brews Modelo Especial. Newlands, who joined the company in 2015 and has served as President since 2018 (inside.beer, 14.2.2018) and as CEO since 2019 (inside.beer, 9.4.2019), will also leave the board but remain a strategic advisor for several months to support a smooth handover.
His successor will be Nicholas Fink, currently a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Fink has served on the board since 2021 and is set to assume the CEO role while continuing as a director. According to Chris Baldwin, Chairman of the Board, the appointment concludes a multi-year succession planning process designed to ensure leadership continuity in a highly competitive market environment.
Fink most recently led Fortune Brands Innovations as CEO, where he oversaw digital transformation initiatives and strategic portfolio adjustments during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, he held senior leadership roles at Suntory Global Spirits, including President for Asia Pacific and South America and Chief Strategy Officer, gaining extensive experience in premium brand development and global beverage markets.
The transition comes at a challenging time for Constellation. The company has been facing softer alcohol demand in the United States (inside.beer, 2.9.2025), particularly among Hispanic consumers, amid stricter immigration policies, volatile trade dynamics, and rising living costs (inside.beer, 10.4.2025). Analysts at TD Cowen, including Robert Moskow, indicated that given Fink’s board tenure, a major shift in strategic direction is not expected in the near term, though potential organizational and portfolio refinements cannot be ruled out.
Market observers, citing data published by Simply Wall St, note that Constellation’s share performance has been mixed in recent months, reflecting both operational resilience and investor concerns about execution. The coming quarters are likely to show how the new leadership balances brand strength, capital allocation, and growth initiatives within the evolving U.S. beer and spirits market.
