"Jeff brings a strong history of leadership and success in the beverage industry to the Heineken USA sales management team," said Blazek. "We are thrilled to welcome him to the helm of our Central Region, where he will lead a team of more than 80 sales and marketing professionals to drive business results and establish a success-oriented culture in the region."

At Heineken USA, Colbert will be responsible for establishing Central Region objectives, strategies and tactics, and guiding account planning. He will oversee relationships with Heineken distributor partners and key regional accounts, as well as assess and improve the effectiveness of retail executions that support brand development to ensure delivery of company objectives.

Colbert brings more than 26 years of sales and marketing management experience to Heineken USA. Most recently, Colbert served as senior vice president of sales and marketing, Tenth & Blake Beer Company in Chicago, where he oversaw the company's overall commercial strategy and business development which included sales, brand marketing, innovation, channel marketing and customer solutions as well as the organizations internally focused learning and development goals.

Prior to Tenth & Blake, Colbert held several positions of increased responsibility in the beer industry including region vp, Southwest for MillerCoors; area vp, South Central Region for Coors Brewing Company; region vp, Southern Region for MolsonCoors; and general manager southwest region for the Miller Brewing Company. Prior to working in the beer industry, Colbert held sales and general management positions with Coca-Cola Enterprises in Massachusetts.

Colbert holds a Bachelor degree from The University of New Hampshire, Whittemore School of Business and Economics. He will be based in Heineken USA's Chicago office.

 From the December 26, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.