13 July 2011
Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held spirits company, named Robert Furniss-Roe as president of Bacardi North America.
He will be based in Bacardi’s Americas headquarters in Coral Gables.
Furniss-Roe will lead all operations in North America for Bacardi’s portfolio of spirits. He succeeds John P. Esposito, who announced his planned retirement.
In a statement, Furniss-Roe said he sees “tremendous opportunities” to grow Bacardi’s business in North America, already its largest market.
A two-decade veteran with Bacardi, Furniss-Roe most recently served as regional president of Latin America and vice president of global sales.He also worked in varied marketing and executive positions, expanding Bacardi’s business in the United States, Asia, Europe, Russia, India and other areas.
Before joining Bacardi in 1989, Furniss-Roe held marketing posts with Dunhill and L’Oreal.
Bacardi Limited produces and markets a portfolio of more than 200 brands and labels of spirits, including Bacardi rum, Grey Goose vodka, Dewar’s scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Martini vermouth and Cazadores tequila. The family-owned company began in Cuba in 1862. It now employs more than 6,000 people, manufactures iin 16 countries on four continents and sells in more than 100 markets worldwide.
For more information on the company, visit www.bacardilimited.com