FDBusiness.com

Family-owned Bacardi, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, has named Francis Debeuckelaere, a 23-year veteran of the company, as Regional President of Europe with immediate effect. He succeeds Mahesh Madhavan, who in March 2017 was named the successor to Michael J Dolan when he retires as CEO. Mahesh Madhavan will spend the next several months working with different regions and markets as he prepares to assume the CEO role in 2018.

Francis Debeuckelaere.

Francis Debeuckelaere comments: “These are exciting times for Europe and for Bacardi. We have an enviable portfolio of brands and an extraordinarily talented team. Add to this powerful combination, the freedom we enjoy as a family-owned company to respond quickly to rapidly changing market trends and we have a winning formula in Europe.”

In his career at Bacardi, Francis Debeuckelaere has led a number of European markets to great success. Under him, the size of Bacardi in Belgium more than doubled, going from the number three spirits company to number one. Similarly, the size of Bacardi in the Netherlands grew by more than 50 percent, from number three in the market to number two, and after he helped establish the company in Switzerland in 2004, Bacardi grew into the country’s number three spirits company. Prior to joining Bacardi, Francis Debeuckelaere held marketing positions with Nestlé and brewer Alken-Maes.

The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S®, ERISTOFF® vodka, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur.