Bacardí shakes up leadership team in UK and Ireland

Spirits giant Bacardí has announced changes to its leadership team in the UK and Ireland, creating a new business unit director role to drive growth in these markets.

Bacardí, which owns over 200 brands including Aberfeldy Scotch whisky and Grey Goose Vodka alongside the original Bacardí rum brand, has announced two new appointment. Steve Young has been promoted to the newly created role of business unit director for the UK & Ireland, and Amanda Almond has been appointed to the new role of managing director, Northern Europe.

Young will be responsible for the company’s commercial operations in the UK & Ireland, tasked with driving the growth of brands including Bacardí rum, Martini vermouth, Bombay Sapphire gin, Grey Goose vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur and ultra-premium Patrón Tequila.

He steps up to the new business unit director role from a previous position as senior director, on-trade growth for Western Europe.

Young has previously held positions at Starbucks as channel controller – EMEA, and for The Heineken Company as regional sales director.

The business unit director for the UK and Ireland will report to Almond who will have responsibility for the total Bacardí business in Northern Europe markets including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Nordics.

Almond takes on responsibility for Northern Europe following her most recent role as managing director for Bacardí in Iberia & Greece. Over the last four years she has grown the company’s share of the market in Spain, moving from fourth to third biggest. Before moving to Spain in 2020, Amanda was MD for Bacardí in the UK & Ireland, achieving year-on-year growth for five successive years.

“In the four years I’ve been away from the UK, the industry has changed more than anyone could imagine,” Almond said following the news of her new appointment, noting that as part of her role she will be keeping up with the “premiumisation trend” which she noted is “not slowing down”.

The spirits giant has made headlines recently over whether it will buy up the remaining stake of Dublin-based Teeling Whiskey. Read more here.