The 49-year-old, Subramaniam is responsible for leading commercial operations in the region for the company’s portfolio of premium spirits, effective immediately.
Subramaniam reports to Bacardi CEO Mahesh Madhavan and joins the its global leadership team. Subramaniam will be based in Dubai, pending immigration department approvals.
Madhavan said: “As we continue to expand Bacardi’s portfolio of premium brands in these vast and fast-growing markets, Vijay’s keen understanding of the opportunities and complexities unique to this region, and his ability to brilliantly adapt global brands to make them locally relevant, will be vital to our continued global growth.”
With the still family-ownded company since 2013, Subramaniam was managing director of India, and most recently expanded his role to lead the Middle East. Before joining Bacardi, he spent 12 years in various general management roles within AMEA working in diverse, multi-cultural environments.
“AMEA represents a once-in-a-lifetime growth opportunity for Bacardi, and our team’s mission is to continue to build awareness and esteem for our iconic brands with new consumers throughout the diverse and dynamic markets within our region,” said Subramaniam.
The company also announced Sanjit Randhawa has been promoted to managing director of India and Southeast Asia. The company says Randhawa has worked at Bacardi for more than a decade in diverse roles such as financial director for India operations; managing director for the Philippines, and more recently managing director for South East Asia. His understanding of the India and South East Asian markets will enable Bacardi to continue with its leadership in these dynamic markets, says Bacardi.
In addition, Vikas Mittal, who formerly managed West and North Africa, has been named managing director of the Middle East and North Africa, and François Portier, formerly managing director of South & East Africa, now serves as managing director of South, East, and West Africa.
Subramaniam succeeds Alejandro (Alex) Ouziel who will leave the company to pursue other opportunities.