Johnnie Blankenship is an Executive Vice President, Managing Partner of IBC. He has a proven record of success in key executive positions during his career in the beverage industry with extensive experience at iconic companies in the industry that include Coca Cola Enterprises, The Coca Cola Company., Miller Brewing Co., Red Bull N.A., and numerous new/emerging beverage brands. He has successfully commercialized countless new brands/products and packaging innovations and is recognized as best in class as an award-winning general manager, organization design and development specialist, leading edge customer management route to market strategist and business planning/budgeting/forecasting expert.
He has developed strong industry partnerships and key business contacts critical to ensuring successful market execution. He has negotiated and closed numerous multiyear product distribution agreements including Pepsico, MillerCoors, Blue Triton, Sysco, Republic National Distribution Company and has extensive experience in developing eCommerce sales, marketing and consumer fulfillment strategies.
He rejoins IBC after contributing significantly throughout his tenure as Hawaii Volcanic Beverages COO and most recently as CEO and board member. During that time the company went from a local brand in Hawaii to a major player in most key western markets in the US. This was accomplished by driving dramatic growth in the Hawaii market becoming the #1 premium category RTD water and saw the company’s expansion into the western US in over 6,000 outlets in less than two years.
As the former Head of Sales at APM Music (Universal/EMI), he demonstrated his diversity and adaptability in turning around negative market trends while accelerating revenue growth in a declining industry. He also led negotiations to successfully win new multi-year client partnership agreements with ESPN, NBCU, CBS, AMC, Viacom MTV, Omnicom, and numerous other cable networks and corporate clients.
At IBC, Johnnie will focus on overall company business development and Western US and Pacific based clients.
Mr. Blankenship is a graduate of The University of Texas, Arlington with a degree in Finance. He lives in the Santa Ynez Valley in California, is an avid runner, hiker and wine enthusiast.
Contact Mr. Blankenship at blankenship@inbevcapital.com
