The former head of international operations for US-based Tito’s Handmade Vodka has become the chair of spiced tequila brand Ghost Tequila.
John McDonnell (below) has been appointed to the board-level position at Ghost, which is based in Boston, as of this week. The news comes two weeks after he stepped down as MD of international at Tito’s after 12 years.
Prior to his time with the vodka brand, which he helped grow from “a handful of North American markets to nearly 150 countries … worldwide”, McDonnell was the international president & COO at Patrón Tequila for eight years, before the brand’s takeover by Bacardi in 2018.
McDonnell was replaced at Tito’s by Diageo’s former global travel retail GM covering Europe and the Americas, Nick Cook.
“Ghost Tequila is one of the few brands in the spirits industry that genuinely has all the elements for success – an innovative product with standout packaging, national distribution backed by a strong team, and, above all, a bold and distinctively spicy flavour profile,” said McDonnell. “I’m honoured and excited to step into this new role and to help shape the next chapter of growth for this truly unique brand.”
In early 2023, Global Drinks Intel revealed exclusively the appointment of Jeff Popkin as CEO of Ghost. Global Drinks Intel has since learned that the executive, who previously headed up Mast-Jagermeister’s US operations, has moved on from the business. Having left in September 2024, Popkin has since been replaced by Ghost’s founder, entrepreneur David Gordon, who launched the brand ten years ago this month.
