Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits (Deutsch Family), a leading importer and marketer of 30 award-winning wines and spirits from around the world including [yellow tail ], Georges Duboeuf, and LICOR 43®, announced today the appointment of Jim Schleifer as the new Division Vice President of the tri-state area reporting to Senior Vice President of Sales, Tony Kalich. Schleifer will be responsible for sales management, distributor relations, and strategic planning for the 4 state area – including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
“Jim has established an impeccable track record during his 35 years of experience within the wine and spirits industry. Throughout his career, he has delivered breakthrough results planning and developing strategic initiatives and executing them with precision. He will apply his extensive experience and leadership skills to help us optimize our effectiveness here at Deutsch,” said Kalich.
Schleifer holds a Bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickenson University in New Jersey and completed the Advanced Managements Program at The Wharton School in Pennsylvania. He has spent the last two years at the SPI Group North America as the Senior Vice President working for Stolichnaya Vodka and Moskovskaya Vodka. During his tenure, he implemented On Premise strategies that resulted in a growth of 44% in targeted accounts and successfully introduced five products in 12 months, generating significant incremental sales.
Prior to his time at SPI, Schleifer spent eight years at The Absolut Spirits Company serving as Vice President of Sales and Vice President Trade Strategy. In addition, he began his career at Seagram and spent 23 years there working on a plethora of top brands including Absolut Vodka and Captain Morgan.
“I am thrilled to become a part of the Deutsch Family team and the amazing culture of this family business. I will help continue their legacy of partnering with distributors to build brands for the long-term,” stated Schleifer.
