Caesars adds luxury brand veteran Rodney Williams to Board of Directors

Caesars Entertainment has announced the appointment of Rodney Williams to its Board of Directors, effective July 1st, 2024, subject to required regulatory approvals and pending licensure. 

"With a unique perspective derived from a track record of luxury brand-building, strategic and digital marketing, and corporate leadership, Williams will bring a distinct and innovative vision to the Caesars Entertainment Board of Directors," the company said in a press statement.

Williams recently stepped down as President of the Diageo Beer Company and President of Diageo Canada. In that role, he oversaw new momentum for Guinness beer, with the brand becoming "the fastest-growing on-premise brand in the United States in 2023," and strong growth for Guinness 0, which became the top-selling non-alcoholic beer in Canada. 

His leadership also delivered growth on Don Julio Tequila and Johnnie Walker Scotch in Canada, as well as a powerful national partnership with Bailey’s liqueur and the Tim Horton’s chain, the statement said.

Prior to joining Diageo in 2022, Williams spent 11 years at Moet Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. His last role there was as Maison (or global) President of Belvedere Vodka, the first American to become a Maison president at Moet Hennessy. 

Previously, Williams served as Chief Marketing Officer for the entire US brand portfolio, ranging from Don Perignon and Krug Champagnes to Glenmorangie Scotch, and before that as SVP for Hennessy US. Under his leadership, the Hennessy business quadrupled in topline sales and operating profit over a five-year period.

Before joining LVMH, Williams served as SVP of Lifestyle Brands for Jackson Family Wines, where his team delivered the largest new product launch in the company’s history with the Kendall Jackson Avant wines release. 

Previously, Williams had been SVP for Lifestyle Wines at Robert Mondavi before and after its acquisition by Constellation Brands. Before joining the wine industry, Williams began his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson and General Motors.

“Rodney is an important addition to the Caesars Entertainment leadership team. Rodney’s career leading some of the world’s best-known beverage brands gives him unmatched perspective in the hospitality industry,” said Gary Carano, Executive Chairman of the Board, Caesars Entertainment.

“His exceptional track record in luxury and premium brand building during his time with Diageo and LVMH and his continued commitment to the food and beverage industry through his service as a trustee and executive committee member of the James Beard Foundation will give us added insights into the continuing confluence of entertainment with the culinary arts as we shepherd Caesars Entertainment into the future.”

“I’m pleased to have Rodney Williams join our Board of Directors. Rodney brings a different perspective to hospitality, having experienced it from the upper echelon of luxury beverage brands,” said Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment.

“His experience in innovation, digital and experiential marketing, and implementing optimization makes him a good strategic fit for our Board of Directors. I look forward to working with him to continue to drive results for our guests, team members, and shareholders.”

In addition to being a trustee of the James Beard Foundation, Williams serves on the Executive Leadership Council, is a director of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, and was a 2024 juror for the Cannes Lions marketing awards. He was recently named to the 2024 Most Influential Black Corporate Leaders list by Savoy magazine. He also advises three startups: Zitti, Qonsent, and CKBG.

Williams has an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Kellogg School, Northwestern University, and a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Amherst College. With the addition of Williams, Caesars Entertainment’s Board of Directors will grow to 11 members.