Bacardi promotes David to top US job

Bacardi-Martini UK managing director Stella David has been promoted to president of Bacardi US. She will head the entire North American region, including the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

John Beard, vice-president of emerging markets for Bacardi, will replace David.

David replaces Eduardo Sardina, a Bacardi family member by marriage, who retires next year. David will be based in Miami from January and will start in her new role in April.

David’s promotion comes a year after she was given additional responsibility for the Netherlands (MW September 11, 2003). She joined the spirits company in 1994 as marketing controller for Bacardi brands after an earlier marketing career at Pot Noodle when it was owned by Golden Wonder. She was made marketing director three years later. In 1999, David was promoted to managing director (MW March 18, 1999).

In the US, Bacardi is leading the fight for the US rights to the Havana Club rum brand. It is seeking help from the US Congress in the form of a law that would prevent Havana Club Holdings, a joint venture between the Cuban government and Pernod Ricard, from using the Havana Club name to sell its own brand of rum in the US.