Equiano responds: ‘Ian was a director throughout, he knew the IP ownership position’
Equiano Global Ltd has issued a detailed response to recent comments by co-founder and global rum ambassador Ian Burrell, who earlier this week announced he was no longer involved with the brand after what he described as a trademark dispute.
As reported by the drinks business on 3 September, Burrell revealed via Instagram that he had “no longer [any] involvement with the Equiano Rum brand”, stating that the trademark “was never registered in the company’s name but was purportedly registered by a company controlled by another founding director & shareholder”. He said the development meant the rum was “no longer black-owned”.
Equiano Global’s response
In response, an Equiano Global Ltd spokesperson has told the drinks business:
“In May this year, the directors of Equiano Ltd (Ian Burrell, Amanda Kakembo and Aaisha Dadral) initiated an administration process due to a significant funding gap. During this process, it became apparent that the company did not own all intellectual property and trademark rights. The IP had in fact been secured by the company’s design agency, something that all directors, including Ian, were aware of well before administration.
Following this, Ian assembled a syndicate of new investors that sought to negotiate and secure the business and assets of Equiano Limited whilst also attempting to purchase the IP and take full control of the brand. The administrators, acting independently and in the best interests of creditors, ultimately rejected their proposal to purchase the assets of Equiano Limited and instead accepted an offer from Equiano Global Limited, a company backed by existing shareholders.
While we thank Ian for his past contributions, it is important to be clear: he was a director throughout, he knew the ownership position of the IP, he attempted to take control of the business through the administration process he initiated, with a new set of investors and that attempt was unsuccessful. It is regrettable to see efforts to reframe the narrative after the fact, particularly when such actions risk undermining those who have worked tirelessly to build this business. Protecting one’s own interests is understandable; doing so at the expense of colleagues, shareholders, investors and staff is not.
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Equiano has always been a collective endeavour, built by hundreds of people who have invested time, talent, passion and, in many cases, their personal savings. For this reason, the newly formed Equiano Global Ltd will honour all existing shareholders with ownership in the new company, a fair outcome that the competing bid would not have delivered.
Our door remains open to Ian, and prior to his statement we were in discussion about his involvement in the new entity. However, we respect that he appears to have chosen a different course, and we wish him well.”
Wider significance
The intervention comes after Burrell, one of the industry’s most recognised voices, said that while he has stepped back from Equiano Rum, his commitment to rum as a “history, culture, community and a way of life” remains undimmed.
Burrell’s departure comes at a time when he has been an outspoken advocate for clearer categorisation of rum by geography. As reported by The Spirits Business in June 2025, he argued that geographical indications (GIs) “strengthen particular brands” and help nations such as Barbados and Jamaica protect their heritage.
“The geography of any spirit can play a major part to not only the flavour of it, but its authenticity as well,” Burrell said, stressing that producers “own your value, as opposed to the value being created [by] somebody else”.
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