The former lead at Diageo’s ‘Global Reserve’ division has started in his new role at Bacardi this week.
Pedro Mendonça (below), whose career with the Johnnie Walker owner started in 2006, has been appointed as the next global senior VP for ‘Bacardi & rums’ at Diageo’s privately-owned peer. The switch follows a break of six months for Mendonça, who stepped away from the Global Reserve MD role in August.
Mendonça’s experience with rum specifically while at Diageo included almost three years as CEO of Guatemalan brand Zacapa. While with Global Reserve, he also co-led on the acquisition of the Don Papa rum two years ago.
The vacancy at Bacardi has been prompted by Roberto Ramirez Laverde’s move to become global senior VP for ‘Patrón & Agaves’. As well as the Patrón tequila, Laverde (below), who left Bacardi in 2019 for Mastercard before returning almost four years later, will oversee its Cazadores sibling and the Ilegal mezcal brand. Laverde joined Bacardi from Heineken in Mexico 12 years ago, heading up rum operations worldwide for the company since returning in late 2023.
The pair will report in to group CMO Ned Duggan, who started in the role in September 2022.
Diageo has reset its rum category presence since taking on Don Papa, offloading the Pampero brand in July before Cacique took the same journey two weeks ago.
