Kristian Benavidez

Commercial Manager, Anheuser-Busch · Founder, Create Group

15+ years driving revenue growth, market expansion, and high-performing teams across Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, and McLane.

$67M+ Revenue|3,000% Brand Growth|2.5M+ Meals Delivered|110+ Team Members

Let's Talk Growth See the Results

Experience across

ANHEUSER-BUSCHMcLANE GLOBALCREATE GROUP

About Me

Kristian Benavidez, Commercial Manager at Anheuser-Busch and Founder of Create Group

I grew up in South Texas, where crossing cultures and navigating different contexts was everyday life.

"The border never felt like a dividing line. It felt like a blend — of language, music, values, and worldviews."

This upbringing taught me comfort in multiple environments, active listening, and building trust across different perspectives.

Leadership Approach

"Leadership is alignment — not control."

Listening before assumptions

Bridging cross-team perspectives

Creating clarity in ambiguous situations

Driving momentum through consistency and accountability

"Good work with good people matters"

Relationships drive execution

Growth should be purpose-driven

Leadership grounded in presence, not pressure

A husband and father first. I enjoy outdoor activities with family, cooking, exploring, and building long-term projects. Family and community background keeps me grounded and committed to meaningful work.

15+ Years of Impact

Career Journey

Driving revenue growth, expanding market presence, and leading cross-functional execution across Fortune 500 companies.

012026 – Present

Texas

Commercial Manager

Anheuser-Busch

Returned to drive commercial strategy and market execution across key accounts.

Commercial strategy

Market execution

Key account growth

022026 – Present

Founder

Create Group

Founded Create Group to launch purpose-driven ventures at the intersection of commercial strategy and community impact.

Purpose-driven ventures

Strategic consulting

Entrepreneurial leadership

032023 – 2025

Houston, TX

Director

McLane Hunger Solutions

Led division P&L and cross-functional operations delivering profitable growth and social impact.

Triple-digit profit gains

600% market expansion

2.5M+ meals delivered

042020 – 2023

Texas

Senior Key Account Manager

Anheuser-Busch

Executed turnaround strategies and market penetration initiatives across multiple markets.

3,000% YOY Estrella growth

+27% Michelob Ultra revenue

4 → 9 retail banners

052011 – 2020

Texas

Area Sales Manager

Coca-Cola

Led sales execution and developed high-performing teams across multiple channels.

$67M+ annual revenue

110+ team members

Execution excellence

Education

MBA

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

BBA

University of Texas at Austin

Recognition

Houston Latinos 40 Under 40

Recognized for leadership in expanding USDA nutrition programs to underserved communities

Revolutionary Award

Anheuser-Busch's peer-nominated honor for market innovation, 2022

Emerging Leader

Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognition for business leadership

Featured Projects

Key initiatives demonstrating revenue growth, market expansion, and team leadership across Fortune 500 companies.

Mission-Driven Growth

USDA Nutrition Program Expansion

Secured contracts and expanded distribution to deliver meals to underserved communities through McLane Hunger Solutions, achieving recognition as Houston Latinos 40 Under 40.

Impact

2.5M+ meals delivered, 600% market expansion

Contract NegotiationP&L ManagementSocial Impact

Brand Growth

Estrella Jalisco Market Penetration

Designed and executed market penetration strategies for Estrella Jalisco at Anheuser-Busch, achieving extraordinary year-over-year growth in a competitive beer category.

Impact

3,000% YOY growth

Market StrategyBrand ActivationGo-to-Market

Revenue Growth

Michelob Ultra Revenue & Share Growth

Grew Michelob Ultra revenue and market share through joint business planning, fact-based selling, and scaled brand activations across retail banners.

Impact

+27% revenue, +2pp market share, 300% activation scale

Revenue GrowthRetail ExpansionData-Driven Selling

Turnaround Leadership

Bud Light Turnaround Strategy

Executed turnaround strategy for Bud Light, achieving volume growth despite double-digit category declines through wholesaler partnerships and disciplined execution.

Impact

Volume growth in declining category

Turnaround StrategyWholesaler PartnershipsCrisis Management

Team Leadership

$67M Sales Organization Leadership

Led sales execution across large, small, and on-premise channels at Coca-Cola. Developed and coached teams of 110+ sales professionals while implementing KPI tracking systems.

Impact

$67M+ annual revenue, 110+ team members

Sales LeadershipTeam DevelopmentProcess Optimization

Market Expansion

Retail Coverage Expansion

Expanded retail coverage from 4 to 9 banners through joint business planning, category insights, and consultative selling approaches with key retail partners.

Impact

125% increase in retail coverage

Retail StrategyCategory ManagementClient Partnerships

Let's Connect

Looking for commercial leadership, market expansion strategy, or go-to-market execution? I'd love to hear what you're working on.

Direct Contact

Kristianbenavi@gmail.com

Connect

LinkedIn Profile

Open to Opportunities

I partner with organizations that need commercial strategy, market expansion leadership, or go-to-market execution — whether through a full-time role, advisory engagement, or strategic consulting via Create Group.