MGM Group ropes in 'high spirited' MD

Chennai, Oct 09: The south based MGM Group, having diversified business with interest in Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL),has roped in Mr A K M A Shamsuddin as the Managing Director of Southern Agrifurane Industries Limited.

Mr Shamsuddin till recently was President of Shaw Wallace liquor business, having to his credit, successful brands like 'Royal Challenge', 'Antiquity Super Premium Whisky', 'White Mischief Vodka' and 'Hayward 500', the Super strong Beer.

His entry into the MGM Group comes at a time when the group is in the process of chalking out highly ambitious plans to enlarge its presence not only in South India, but also in the rest of the country, a MGM Group press release here said.

"It is interesting to note that MGM Group has overseas ambitions in the spirit business. Mr Shamsuddin is expected to bring in his experience and expertise contributing to the growth of the group," it said.

Having launched and nurtured popular brands, Shamsuddin had managed the total business of Shaw Wallace in difficult conditions and turn it around, the release said. "The success of Shaw Wallace to a major extent, is due to his contribution and the team that he built over the years," it said.

At the time of UB group's take over of Shaw Wallace, Mr Shamsuddin was in the process of launching 'Royal Mixed Green' based Whisky, 'White Mischief Platinum Vodka' and 'Antiquity Blue', which has a unique bottle not found anywhere in the world. These brands had great potential and were going national.

At present, MGM's brands in the market were 'MGM Apple Vodka', 'MGM Orange Vodka', 'MGM White Rum', 'MGM Classic Whisky', 'MGM VSOP Brandy' and 'MGM Crown Whisky', the release added.

UNI