Primary Job Title CEO Primary Organization 
Constellation Brands
Location Potwin, Kansas, United States Regions Midwestern US Gender Male
LinkedIn View on LinkedIn
Rob Sands began his career as an associate with the Rochester law firm of Harter, Secrest & Emery. He
joined
Constellation Brands in June 1986 as general counsel overseeing the legal affairs of the company, in particular its
acquisitions. In 1993, he was a
ppointed to the position of executive vice president and general counsel. In 1998,
upon acquisition of the company’s U.K. division that
Rob
spearheaded, he was appointed to the role of chief
executive officer of Constellation International, with responsib
ility for oversight of this division. From early 2000
through most of 2002, he served as group president with responsibility for Canandaigua Wine Company and the
U.K. Division. In December 2002,
Rob
was appointed to the roles of president and chief operat
ing officer with
responsibility for the company’s two divisions, Constellation Wines and Constellation Beers and Spirits. In July
2007,
Rob
was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the company
and
serves as
a member of
Constellation’s board of di
rectors.
In 2013, u
nder Rob’s leadership
,
Constellation acquired the remaining portion of the
Crown Imports
beer joint
venture along with a state
-
of
-
the
-
art brewery in Mexico and perpetual rights to produce the Grupo Modelo
brands in the U.S. With the
completion of this acquisition
the company’s gross
sales reach close to $6 billion
,
further cementing Constellation Brands as the largest multi
-
category supplier of beverage alcohol to distributors
and retailers in the U.S.
Rob
is chairman of the board o
f the New York Wine and Culinary Center, a member of the board of trustees of
the Rochester General Health System, a member of the board and executive committee of the Rochester
Business Alliance, and a member of the board of trustees of Thompson Health.
In 2008,
Rob
was named an
inaugural member of the Federal Reserve Bank (FED) of New York’s Upstate New York Regional Advisory Board.
The 10
-
member board provides the FED with business insights for upstate New York
