Rob Sands
{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{distinguish|Rob Sand}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rob Sands
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date |59|2018|04|16}}{{cite web|title=Forbes profile: Robert Sands|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-sands/|website=Forbes|access-date=October 23, 2019}}
| birth_place =
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| nationality = American
| education = The Harley School
| alma_mater = Skidmore College
Pace University
| occupation = Businessman
| known for =
| title = CEO, Constellation Brands, 2007-2019
Executive Chair, Constellation Brands
| term = 2019-present
| predecessor = Richard Sands
| successor =
| boards =
| spouse = Pamela Kaufman
| children =
| parents = Marvin Sands
| relatives = Richard Sands (brother)
| website =
}}
Robert Scott Sands (born 1958/59) is an American billionaire businessman, and the executive chair and former CEO of Constellation Brands, a Fortune 500 beer, wine and spirits company founded by his father Marvin Sands.
Early life
Robert Scott Sands is the son of Marvin Sands, and has an older brother, Richard Sands.{{Cite news|first=Andrea |last=Deckert |title=Company leader stays in good spirits |newspaper=Rochester Business Journal|date=November 20, 2009 |url=https://rbj.net/2009/11/20/company-leader-stays-in-good-spirits/ }}
He grew up in Canandaigua, New York, and was educated at The Harley School in Rochester, New York, graduating in 1976.{{cite web|url=https://www.harleyschool.org/alumni-profile-rob-sands/|title=Lives of Great Purpose: Rob Sands '76|website=www.harleyschool.org|date=August 30, 2017 |access-date=April 16, 2018}} Sands earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Skidmore College, followed by a juris doctor from Pace University.{{cite web|title=Executive Profile: Robert S. Sands II|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=258595&privcapId=258589|website=Bloomberg LP|access-date=April 16, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://rbj.net/2009/11/20/company-leader-stays-in-good-spirits/|title=Company leader stays in good spirits|first=Andrea|last=Deckert|date=November 20, 2009|website=rbj.net|access-date=April 16, 2018}}
Career
Marvin Sands founded the Canandaigua Wine Company in 1945, aged 21.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2017/10/18/how-two-brothers-built-their-family-wine-business-into-a-40-billion-alcohol-empire/#47911c602431|title=How Two Brothers Built Their Family Wine Business Into A $40 Billion Alcohol Empire|first=Noah|last=Kirsch|website=forbes.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} By 1980, its annual sales topped $50 million, was renamed Constellation Brands in 2000, and has acquired numerous companies including Robert Mondavi wine and Svedka vodka. In 2013, it acquired the US rights to Grupo Modelo beers including Modelo and Corona.
Sands started his career at the law firm of Harter Secrest & Emery LLP in Rochester, New York, and worked there for two years before joining the family business as general counsel in 1986.
Sands was CEO of Constellation Brands from 2007 to 2019, succeeding his brother, Richard Sands.{{Cite web|url=https://adage.com/article/people-players/rob-sands-takes-reins-brother-constellation-brands/118892|title=Rob Sands Takes Reins From Brother at Constellation Brands|date=June 28, 2007|website=adage.com|language=en|access-date=October 23, 2019}} In October 2018, he became the executive chairman of the company.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/17/constellation-brands-ceo-rob-sands-will-step-down-in-march-wsj.html|title=Constellation Brands CEO Rob Sands will step down in March|last=Wang|first=Christine|date=October 17, 2018|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=October 23, 2019}}
Sands is a board member of Rochester General Health Systems, Thompson Hospital, Rochester Business Alliance, and chairman of the New York Wine and Culinary Center.
In 2016, along with his brother and mother, "Mickey", donated $61 million to the Rochester Area Community Foundation, the single largest gift in its history.{{Cite news|title=Sands family gift is largest in history of Rochester Area Community Foundation |newspaper=WHAM-TV|date=February 9, 2016 |url= https://13wham.com/news/local/sands-family-gift-is-largest-in-history-of-rochester-area-community-foundation }}
Personal life
In 1986, Sands married Jessica Nancy Zingesser.{{Cite news|title=R. S. Sands Married To Nancy Zingesser |newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 3, 1986 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/03/style/r-s-sands-married-to-nancy-zingesser.html |quote=The marriage of Jessica Nancy Zingesser, a daughter of Virginia Zingesser of White Plains and Dr. Lawrence Zingesser of New York, to Robert Scott Sands took place last evening at the Pierre in New York. Rabbi Martin Zion performed the ceremony.}} Sands is married to Pamela Sands (nee Kaufman){{citation needed|date=January 2021}} and lives in Canandaigua, New York.