# Rob Sands

> Rob Sands is an American businessman and non-management director of Constellation Brands, the beverage company founded by his father, Marvin Sands. A philosophy graduate and lawyer, he joined as general counsel in 1986, served as CEO from July 2007 through February 2019, and led the 2013 acquisition of Grupo Modelo’s U.S. beer business. He is also chair of Pace University’s Board of Trustees and, with his wife Pamela, donated $25 million recognized in the naming of its Sands College of Performing Arts.

- **Role:** Non-Management Director at Constellation Brands; Chair of the Board of Trustees at Pace University
- **Organizations:** Constellation Brands, Pace University, Sands Family Foundation, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** The Harley School, Bachelor of Arts in philosophy; Phi Beta Kappa, Skidmore College, Juris Doctor; Law Review, Pace University School of Law
- **Known for:** Led the 2013 acquisition combining Crown Imports ownership, the Nava brewery and perpetual U.S. Corona and Modelo brand licenses., Named Beverage Industry’s 2017 Executive of the Year., Inducted into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame in 2017.

## Career timeline

- **1984** — Graduated from Pace law school and worked as an attorney at Harter Secrest & Emery in Rochester.
- **1986** — Joined the family business as general counsel in June.
- **1993** — Became executive vice president in October.
- **1998** — Became chief executive officer, international, in December.
- **2000** — Became group president in April; the company adopted the Constellation Brands name that year.
- **2002** — Became president and chief operating officer in December.
- **2007** — Succeeded Richard Sands as CEO in July.
- **2013** — Led Constellation through its approximately $4.75 billion acquisition of Grupo Modelo’s U.S. beer business.
- **2018** — Joined Pace University’s Board of Trustees.
- **2019** — Concluded his CEO tenure in February and became executive chairman in March.
- **2021** — Became chair of Pace University’s Board of Trustees.
- **2022** — Executive chair role ended in November; Constellation eliminated Class B common stock.
- **2023** — Retired as Constellation board chair after the July annual meeting and continued as a director.

## Achievements

- Led the 2013 acquisition combining Crown Imports ownership, the Nava brewery and perpetual U.S. Corona and Modelo brand licenses.
- Named Beverage Industry’s 2017 Executive of the Year.
- Inducted into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame in 2017.
- Pamela and Rob Sands donated $25 million recognized in the 2023 naming of Pace’s Sands College of Performing Arts.
- Became chair of Pace University’s Board of Trustees in 2021.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Co-signed Pace Magazine’s Summer 2026 leadership letter as chair of the Board of Trustees.
- **2023-07** — Announced retirement from Constellation’s board chairmanship while remaining a director.
- **2023-05** — Pace announced the Sands College of Performing Arts in recognition of a $25 million gift from Pamela and Rob Sands.

## Links

- Website: https://www.cbrands.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-sands-6006ba125

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/rob-sands
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21