Asahi Group Holdings Announces New CEO for Asahi Europe & International
(Tokyo, Japan - February 24, 2025) - Asahi Group Holdings is pleased to announce the appointment of Dragos Constantinescu as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its regional headquarters in Europe, Asahi Europe & International (AEI), effective April 1. Current CEO Paolo Lanzarotti, after an esteemed 19-year tenure with AEI and its former corporate entity SABMiller, will take early retirement from full-time executive responsibilities on March 31.
Dragos is a seasoned international leader who joined the Asahi Group in 2019 as Managing Director for Ursus Breweries in Romania and Dreher Breweries in Hungary. In 2021, he was appointed as Managing Director for the Czechia, Slovakia, Germany, and Austria cluster.
Dragos began his career at British American Tobacco (BAT) in the Netherlands in 2002, holding various finance and General Management roles across Europe over 17 years. Before joining the Asahi Group, Dragos served as Area Director for Central Europe at BAT.
Bringing a wealth of business experience and a strong results-driven approach, Dragos’ leadership is further strengthened by his diverse cultural perspectives gained from his extensive career across Europe. He is deeply passionate about driving Asahi’s business performance through innovation, its iconic brands, and its people. As a strong advocate for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, he is also dedicated to advancing the Asahi Group’s sustainability agenda, an area where both Plzeňský Prazdroj and the Asahi Group have received wide recognition.
Paolo joined the former SABMiller in 2005 and started his beer journey at Birra Peroni in Italy. Since then, he has been an integral part of the beer business that eventually became AEI. He quickly advanced to the role of Sales Director before taking on Managing Director positions in Slovakia and India. In 2014, he led the Czechia and Slovakia businesses, successfully integrating them.
In 2017, Paolo managed the Central and Eastern European beer business, which was acquired by the Asahi Group. From 2021, he took on the role of overseeing the entire European beer business, driving its integration and steady growth. During this time, he has navigated challenges such as COVID-19 and the Ukraine war, successfully advanced its premiumization strategy, and championed sustainability and diversity. Furthermore, he facilitated the acquisition of Asahi Group's first alcohol and non-alcohol beverage production facility in the U.S., significantly contributing to the overall growth of the group.
