Today’s Notable Young Professional is Thor Richardson, the Director of International Markets for Casamigos Tequila and the pal of a little-known actor you’ve might have heard of named George Clooney. We caught up with him to learn about his inspiration and find out what advice he would share with other young professionals…
WORK
1. Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Go.
I’m a managing partner of Casamigos with George Clooney and Rande Gerber and lead our international markets and expansion. It’s the fastest growing tequila brand in the world.
2. What was the inspiration for your career route?
Luck. I was in law – next thing you know you’re in the liquor business.
3. What is the most memorable milestone in your career so far?
Hmmm. That’s tough. I’d say it’s a tie between when we surpassed $1 million of sales internationally within my first year of starting the international division or when we became the # 1 selling premium reposado right here in Ontario. Both very memorable for me.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?
Probably sipping on a Casamigos reposado on the rocks.
5. Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Strip away all the noise and the root of any successful business is a great product with the right team behind it. If you can keep that in mind, you never know where your next business will come from.
6. Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is it (or they) important to you?
I’ve been a proud supporter of Free the Children and We Day for some time. The way they are able to impact generations to come, locally and globally, is awe-inspiring. The founders, Craig and Marc Kielburger, are the most incredible guys you will ever meet.
7. What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
There’s constantly fires to put out in any new business. We have a lot of moving parts in our company and compound that across all our countries at different stages of growth. I knew nothing about the liquor business when I started so it’s been sink or swim from day one and that’s the fun part.
8. What does the word notable mean to you?
Off the beaten path.
PLAY
1. Where is your favourite place to wine/ dine in your city and why?
Love Soho House, they are a great global partner of ours. I also love a good steak and you can’t beat The Keg – the new one on King West is a short walk from the office and always my go-to.
2. What’s the most visited website on your Internet browser? The most played song on your phone?
Probably the Globe and Mail and NHL.com
Night Moves – Bob Seger.
3. Who’s one person you think everyone should be following on social media?
Our social media team in the Malibu office does a killer job with @casamigos. I like to follow some entertaining accounts and @barstoolsports is one of the funniest out there.
4. What’s your favourite country to visit and why? And what’s the next one you plan on travelling to?
Would have to be the UK. I am lucky to get back every couple of months for work and get to catch up with old classmates from Cambridge. We are launching in the UAE in the fall and I recently got back from Dubai, which was crazy.
5. What gives you the greatest FOMO?
When I’m away and my friends are doing something fun back home. Snapchat is the best and worst invention.
6. What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
This may sound weird but I love a good cold glass of milk more often than I care to admit.
7. What’s something you wish you didn’t spend so much money on? What’s something you wish you spent more on?
Probably clothes. For the latter, I’d say art. I’ve started collecting black and white photography, which is very interesting and fun, but it can get expensive so I have to pace myself.
8. And finally, what does success look like to you? Work, play, or otherwise…
Creating something you’re proud of and spending time with the people that matter. I’d have to say that sums it up.