Constellation Brands NZ Ltd

Julie Bassett VP International HR & Business Enablement

In the fast-paced sphere of human resources, Julie Bassett stands out as an accomplished executive with over a decade of hands-on experience in HR management. Her journey through diverse challenges and unique projects has catapulted her into a leadership role at Constellation Brands, a Fortune 500 company and a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits.

At Constellation Brands, where her impact on HR functions has been transformative, Bassett has heralded a new era of employee engagement and growth by maintaining a continuous emphasis on the organisation’s culture and an enthusiasm for innovation.

“The opportunity to work on a wide range of events with different challenges has opened my eyes to growth and innovation, propelling my career and shaping my expertise,” says Julie Bassett, Vice President of International Human Resources and Business Enablement at Constellation Brands NZ Ltd.

Bassett’s career trajectory has been a testament to her ability to seize opportunities and push boundaries. Her journey highlights the power of embracing challenges to foster personal growth. Having embarked on a culture development journey at Constellation Brands, she has successfully navigated the turbulent waters of organisational transformation, contributing to the $2 billion in Net Sales of the Wine and Spirits division.

At the foundation of her success is her visionary approach to HR practices. This approach has been a driving force in establishing a flourishing work culture at Constellation Brands, a company known for iconic wine brands such as Robert Mondavi and The Prisoner from the US and Kim Crawford and Selaks from New Zealand.

"The Opportunity To Work On A Wide Range Of Events With Different Challenges Has Opened My Eyes To Growth And Innovation, Propelling My Career And Shaping My Expertise"

The culture transformation initiative undertaken by Bassett and her team involved benchmarking, envisioning the desired future culture, and identifying the gaps. Equipped with this knowledge, the group merged HR initiatives, talent acquisition and development, performance management, and learning opportunities with the aspirational organisational culture of Constellation Brands Asia Pacific, which employs more than 300 people across the region and is part of a 9,000-person team globally.

One of Bassett’s standout innovations has been the ‘Goals and Growth’ process, which transformed performance management at the company. Instead of the traditional top-down approach, this process puts employees at the centre, empowering them to create their own goals that coincide with the organisational strategy of Constellation Brands – a strategy rooted in consumer-led innovation and premiumisation.

Along with her involvement in culture development, Bassett’s approach to adopting technology has been essential in modernising HR processes at Constellation Brands. Her data-driven approach provided insights into numerous facets of the organisation’s performance by leveraging tools like Power BI for people analytics and reporting.

Bassett’s leadership is not confined to HR alone; it also encompasses the broader gamut of business enablement functions. Her oversight of data analytics, IT, automation projects, project management and strategy deployment exemplifies her ability to bridge the gap between traditional HR practices and cutting-edge technologies.

Julie Bassett’s decade-long HR management experience and leadership have been indispensable in driving HR activities at Constellation Brands to new heights. Her culture-focused strategies and initiatives have transformed performance management, fostering organisational engagement and collaboration.

As she continues to shape the future of HR, Bassett stands as an inspiration for HR professionals aspiring to make lasting impacts on their organisations and is a guiding force at Constellation Brands as it continues its journey to build brands people love.