SodaStream satisfies thirst for new Americas exec

SodaStream International named veteran entertainment industry executive Scott Guthrie as regional general manager of the Americas reporting directly to CEO Daniel Birnbaum.

Guthrie joins SodaStream, the leading manufacturer and distributor of home beverage carbonation systems, after most recently serving as EVP of Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, a division of Viacom, where he was responsible for the sales and marketing strategies of leading home entertainment brands such as Paramount, Dreamworks, MTV, Nickelodeon, CBS and Showtime. Prior to Viacom, Guthrie was EVP of publishing at THQ a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. He also spent nearly a decade with The Walt Disney Company and prior to that held positions with PepsiCo and Colgate-Palmolive.

"We are very excited to welcome Scott to the SodaStream family. His experience growing leading consumer brands in the Americas makes him a great fit for our organization at this juncture in SodaStream's evolution into a mainstream beverage brand,” Birnbaum said. “I am confident Scott's leadership will help broaden consumer awareness of our home carbonation system, strengthen our retail relationships and propel our Americas' business forward to new heights of household penetration and profitability."

The move follows the recent release of third quarter results in which SodaStream’s revenues grew 28.5% to $144.6 million but net income fell slightly due to increased marketing activity.

At the time, Birnbaum noted the company was executing its primary objective of expanding its user base in its fastest growing markets.

"Our progress is being fueled by positive consumer response to our demand creation efforts and innovative products. With unmatched leadership and capabilities in home carbonation, we believe we are on track to continue acquiring new users and deliver strong annual sales and earnings growth in the coming years,” Birnbaum said.