Bio
Wayne E. Chaplin serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s), the world’s pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol and a multi-generational, family-owned company. He was named to this role in January 2016, upon the announcement of the combination of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. and Glazer’s, Inc.
Chaplin joined Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. (Southern) in 1984, following a period practicing law at a Miami-based firm. In 1987, he was appointed to Vice President of Operations, and in 1989, was named First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all divisions of the company’s distribution operations. By 1992, Chaplin was appointed to the Company’s Executive Management Committee and became an officer and director. He was appointed Southern’s President and Chief Operating Officer in 1994, and in May 2014, was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern. The completion of the combination of Southern and Glazer’s was announced in July 2016.
Chaplin was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1956. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, he received a Juris Doctor (J.D) law degree from the same institution. As he prepared himself for a future leadership role in the company, Chaplin quickly learned the importance of customer sales and service excellence in his early years at Southern. Chaplin went on to serve in various roles including sales supervisor, company comptroller, and operations manager. From this experience, he believes Southern Glazer’s goals must be closely tied to its suppliers’ goals and customers’ needs.
Beyond his day-to-day corporate responsibilities, Chaplin is very active in overseeing the wide range of national, state and local charitable causes the company supports–from education and humanitarian relief activities to numerous corporate social responsibility initiatives hosted across the enterprise.
In addition to his corporate-related philanthropic activities, Chaplin is an active supporter of numerous community-focused organizations and holds several leadership and board positions. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board and Member of the Executive Committee at the University of Miami. Chaplin also served as Chairman of the Board for Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach from 2012 – 2018 and currently serves as a Board of Trustee member for the institution.
Chaplin has also demonstrated a deep and ongoing commitment to the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU). Through his leadership, advocacy, and philanthropic support—including helping grow the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) into a nationally recognized event that has raised nearly $50 million for the school—he has played a key role in advancing its academic excellence and global reputation. Each year, the Festival provides hands-on experience to more than 1,500 FIU students, reinforcing the school’s mission to prepare future leaders in hospitality through real-world learning and industry engagement.