RED Stripe head of marketing and innovation Jomo Cato will leave his job at the end of March, the brewing company announced yesterday.

In a release to the Jamaica Stock Exchange, Red Stripe advised that Cato has resigned effective March 30, 2014. Red Stripe later told Caribbean Business Report that Cato has decided to “pursue new career opportunities and interest” after four years with the beer maker.

St Vincent-born Cato joined Red Stripe in 2010 and has been a major driving force behind a multitude of innovations that have re-energised Red Stripe in the alcohol beverages market. Some of the new products under Cato include low-cost beer Talawah, D&G White Rum, Malta Light and a variety of flavoured Red Stripe Light beers, including lime, apple and ginger-flavoured brews.

Cato said in 2012 that innovation is a key pillar of the company’s strategy to building value and overall market share.

“We are moving from being a big company to a big, really fast company. New offerings and speed to market with our innovations is what we are about,” said Cato.

Cato is a seasoned marketer with experience in a variety of industries, including telecoms and beverages. He has been credited with the development and roll-out of pioneering marketing campaigns across 20 markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has worked for more than a decade with global brands, including Coca-Cola, Appleton Rums, Samsung, Heineken, Guinness, Hennessy and Digicel.