AB InBev vs Constellation Brands: Founders, CEOs and History
AB InBev was founded in 2008 by Jorge Paulo Lemann, Marcel Telles, Carlos Alberto Sicupira and is led by Michel Doukeris. Constellation Brands was founded in 1945 by Marvin Sands and is led by Nicholas I. Fink.
Company facts
AB InBev
- Founded
- 2008
- Headquarters
- Leuven, Belgium
- Current CEO
- Michel Doukeris
- Employees
- 137,000
Constellation Brands
- Founded
- 1945
- Headquarters
- Rochester, New York
- Current CEO
- Nicholas I. Fink
- Employees
- 9,400
Founders
AB InBev
Jorge Paulo Lemann
Lemann is not a founder of the AB InBev legal entity, which was formed in 2008 when InBev acquired Anheuser-Busch. He is listed because he, Marcel Telles and Carlos Alberto Sicupira bought control of Brazilian brewer Brahma in 1989.
Marcel Telles
Telles was one of the three Brazilian partners who bought control of Brahma in 1989, the brewer that became the core of Ambev and, after the 2004 Interbrew combination, of InBev. InBev's 2008 acquisition of Anheuser-Busch created AB InBev.
Carlos Alberto Sicupira
Sicupira joined Lemann and Telles in buying control of Brahma in 1989. Brahma later merged with Antarctica to form Ambev, which combined with Interbrew in 2004 to create InBev, the company that acquired Anheuser-Busch in 2008.
Constellation Brands
Marvin Sands
Constellation Brands possesses a unique founding story that traces back to a small, localized business selling bulk wine in upstate New York, founded by a young, ambitious entrepreneur.
CEOs and their tenures
AB InBev
- Carlos Brito2005–2021
Chief Executive Officer
CEO of InBev from 2005 and of AB InBev after the 2008 Anheuser-Busch deal. Stepped down on 1 July 2021 after 15 years as CEO and 32 years with the company.
Source - Michel Doukeris2021–present
Chief Executive Officer
Became CEO on 1 July 2021. Joined the company in 1996, led China and Asia Pacific operations for seven years, became global Chief Sales Officer in 2016 and ran Anheuser-Busch and the North America Zone before his appointment.
Source
Constellation Brands
- Richard Sands1993–2007
President and CEO
Richard Sands led the company's acquisition-driven expansion, including Barton, Robert Mondavi, international wine deals, and the 2000 name change to Constellation Brands.
Source - Robert Sands2007–2019
Chief Executive Officer
Rob Sands led the transformative 2013 Grupo Modelo U.S. beer business acquisition, which reshaped Constellation from a wine-heavy company into a beer-led beverage alcohol business.
Source - William A. Newlands2019–2026
President and Chief Executive Officer
Newlands led Constellation through a period of beer-led growth, wine and spirits restructuring, SVEDKA divestiture, and the transition toward an even more concentrated Modelo and Corona-driven portfolio.
Source - Nicholas I. Fink2026–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Fink became President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2026 after serving as a Constellation director. His first leadership chapter begins with a beer-led company reporting $9.139 billion in FY2026 net sales and a much smaller wine and spirits portfolio.
Source
Timeline: AB InBev and Constellation Brands side by side
1717AB InBev
Sebastien Artois Takes Over Den Hoorn
Sebastien Artois, master brewer of Den Hoorn, takes over the brewery and renames it after himself.
1852AB InBev
Anheuser & Co. Brewery Origins in St. Louis
The Anheuser & Co. brewery in St. Louis, the forerunner of Anheuser-Busch, dates its origins to 1852.
1945Constellation Brands
Company founded as Canandaigua Industries
Marvin Sands establishes Canandaigua Industries in the Finger Lakes region of New York with eight employees, focusing on bulk wine production for East Coast bottlers. First-year sales total $150,000.
1954Constellation Brands
Launch of Richard's Wild Irish Rose
The company introduces Richard's Wild Irish Rose, a dessert wine that becomes its flagship brand and significantly expands market presence beyond bulk wine.
1972Constellation Brands
Incorporation as Canandaigua Wine Company
The company is incorporated as Canandaigua Wine Company, Inc., preparing for public market access.
1973Constellation Brands
Initial public offering
Canandaigua Wine Company completes its IPO, providing capital for the acquisition-driven growth strategy that would define the company for decades.
1987AB InBev
Artois and Piedboeuf Form Interbrew
Belgium's two largest breweries, Brouwerijen Artois of Leuven and Brasserie Piedboeuf of Jupille, merge to form Interbrew.
1987Constellation Brands
Manischewitz winery acquisition
The company purchases the Manischewitz winery in Canandaigua, New York, adding kosher wine capabilities and licensing the Manischewitz name.
1989AB InBev
Brazilian Investors Buy Control of Brahma
Jorge Paulo Lemann, Marcel Telles and Carlos Alberto Sicupira buy control of Brazilian brewer Brahma, which later combines with Antarctica to form Ambev.
1993Constellation Brands
Barton Incorporated acquisition
Constellation acquires Barton Incorporated for $123 million, entering distilled spirits and imported beer distribution, including Corona Extra distribution rights. The deal doubles the company's size.
1997Constellation Brands
Formation of Canandaigua Brands Inc.
Canandaigua Brands Inc. is formed as the parent company of Canandaigua Wine Company and Barton Incorporated, reflecting the diversified portfolio.
1999Constellation Brands
Franciscan Estates acquisition
The company acquires Napa Valley-based Franciscan Estates, one of the biggest California winery deals ever, establishing a powerful presence in premium and luxury wine markets.
2000Constellation Brands
Name change to Constellation Brands
Canandaigua Brands changes its name to Constellation Brands, signaling the company's breadth across wine, beer, and spirits categories.
2004AB InBev
Interbrew and Ambev Create InBev
Interbrew combines with Ambev, creating InBev.
2004Constellation Brands
Robert Mondavi Corporation acquisition
Constellation acquires Robert Mondavi Corporation for approximately $1 billion, adding premium California wines and becoming the largest fine wine company in the United States.
2007Constellation Brands
Crown Imports joint venture and SVEDKA acquisition
Constellation and Grupo Modelo create the Crown Imports joint venture for U.S. beer imports, and the company acquires Spirits Marque One, bringing SVEDKA Vodka into the portfolio.
2008AB InBev
InBev Acquires Anheuser-Busch
InBev combines with Anheuser-Busch through an offer of $54.8 billion and changes its name to Anheuser-Busch InBev.
2013AB InBev
Grupo Modelo Combination
AB InBev completes its $20.1 billion combination with Grupo Modelo; Modelo's U.S. business is sold to Constellation Brands for about $4.75 billion.
2013Constellation Brands
Grupo Modelo U.S. beer business acquisition
Constellation completes the $4.75 billion acquisition of Grupo Modelo's U.S. beer business from Anheuser-Busch InBev, gaining 100% ownership of Crown Imports, the Nava brewery, and exclusive perpetual U.S. rights to Corona and Modelo brands.
2014AB InBev
Oriental Brewery Reacquired
AB InBev completes the $5.8 billion purchase of South Korea's Oriental Brewery, which it had sold in 2009.
2015Constellation Brands
Ballast Point Brewing acquisition
Constellation acquires Ballast Point Brewing for $1 billion, entering the craft beer segment.
2016AB InBev
SAB Combination Completed
AB InBev completes its combination with SABMiller on 10 October 2016, valued at a gross purchase consideration of $114 billion.
2016Constellation Brands
Obregon brewery acquisition
Constellation acquires the Obregon brewery from Grupo Modelo for $600 million, achieving supply independence from the interim supply agreement.
2017Constellation Brands
Initial Canopy Growth investment
Constellation invests $191 million in Canopy Growth, the Canadian cannabis company, beginning what would become an approximately $4 billion commitment.
2018Constellation Brands
Major Canopy Growth investment
Constellation invests an additional $3.8 billion in Canopy Growth, increasing its stake to 38% and making it the largest shareholder.
2019AB InBev
Budweiser APAC Listed in Hong Kong
AB InBev lists a minority stake in Budweiser APAC on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for $5.75 billion, including the over-allotment option.
2019AB InBev
BEES Piloted in the Dominican Republic
AB InBev pilots its BEES B2B ordering app in the Dominican Republic before rolling it out to other markets.
2019Constellation Brands
Ballast Point divestiture and CEO transition
Constellation sells Ballast Point for a fraction of its $1 billion purchase price, and Bill Newlands succeeds Rob Sands as CEO in March 2019.
2020AB InBev
Australian Business Sold to Asahi
AB InBev completes the sale of Carlton & United Breweries to Asahi for ~$10.3 billion (AUD 16.0 billion), with net proceeds of $10.8 billion.
2021AB InBev
Michel Doukeris Becomes CEO
Michel Doukeris, head of the North America Zone, succeeds Carlos Brito as CEO on 1 July 2021.
2021Constellation Brands
Low-cost wine brands divestiture
Constellation sells 30 low-cost wine brands to E. & J. Gallo for $810 million as part of its premiumization strategy.
2022Constellation Brands
Dual-class stock elimination
Stockholders vote to eliminate Class B Convertible Common Stock and shift to a single class with one share, one vote rights. The Sands family receives $1.5 billion (pre-tax) for their enhanced voting shares.
2023AB InBev
Bud Light Boycott
A backlash over a Bud Light promotion with influencer Dylan Mulvaney cuts Bud Light sales, and Modelo Especial passes it as the top-selling U.S. beer.
2024AB InBev
Worldwide Olympic Partner
AB InBev becomes a Worldwide Olympic Partner, with Corona Cero as the first global beer sponsor of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2024Constellation Brands
Headquarters relocation to Downtown Rochester
Constellation relocates to a 170,000 square foot campus in Downtown Rochester, becoming the first Fortune 500 company to operate in the city in two decades.
2025AB InBev
FY2025 Revenue of $59.32B
AB InBev reports $59.32 billion in revenue, $21.2 billion in normalized EBITDA and $52.5 billion in BEES GMV.
2025Constellation Brands
SVEDKA divestiture and wine portfolio restructuring
Constellation completes the SVEDKA Vodka divestiture on January 6, 2025, and announces plans to divest remaining mainstream wine brands while retaining premium and luxury wines priced $15 and above.
2026AB InBev
BeatBox Acquisition Closes
AB InBev closes its purchase of 85% of U.S. ready-to-drink brand BeatBox on 27 February 2026 for up to about $490 million.
2026AB InBev
First-Half 2026 Results
Reported revenue rises 11.5% to $31.93 billion in the first half of 2026, with organic revenue up 5.8% in Q1 and 5.6% in Q2.
2026Constellation Brands
Nick Fink becomes CEO
Nicholas Fink succeeds Bill Newlands as President and CEO on April 13, 2026, the fifth CEO in the company's history.
Acquisitions
AB InBev
- BeatBox Beverages2026$490M
- Craft Brew Alliance2020$200M
- SABMiller2016$114B
- Oriental Brewery2014$5.8B
- Grupo Modelo2013$20.1B
- Anheuser-Busch2008$54.8B
Constellation Brands
- Obregon Brewery2016$600M
- Ballast Point Brewing2015$1B
- Grupo Modelo U.S. Beer Business2013$4.8B
- Robert Mondavi Corporation2004$1B
- Barton Incorporated1993$123M
Questions about AB InBev vs Constellation Brands
Who is the CEO of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and Constellation Brands, Inc.?
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV is led by Michel Doukeris and Constellation Brands, Inc. is led by Nicholas I. Fink. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV founded vs Constellation Brands, Inc.?
Constellation Brands, Inc. was founded in 1945 — 63 years before Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, which was founded in 2008. Constellation Brands, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV.
How many employees does Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV have compared to Constellation Brands, Inc.?
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV employs approximately 137,000 people, while Constellation Brands, Inc. employs approximately 9,400. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has the larger workforce at 137,000 employees, compared to Constellation Brands, Inc.'s 9,400. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and Constellation Brands, Inc. headquartered?
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV is headquartered in Belgium and Constellation Brands, Inc. is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and Constellation Brands, Inc.?
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV was founded by Jorge Paulo Lemann, Marcel Telles, Carlos Alberto Sicupira. Constellation Brands, Inc. was founded by Marvin Sands.
Which company has a longer operating history — Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV or Constellation Brands, Inc.?
Constellation Brands, Inc. has been operating for approximately 81 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has been in operation for around 18 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the AB InBev vs Constellation Brands overview