The Hindu Business Line : Bacardi Martini downsizing top management in India

THE global liquor giant Bacardi is downsizing its top management in India. Bacardi Martini India Ltd (BMIL), the 74:26 domestic joint venture with Gemini Distilleries, is not likely to replace senior officials who left the company in recent months either on account of retirement or personal reasons.

The company's sales head, Mr Vijay Sabharwal, and Finance Controller, Mr Avinash Swain, are among those who have exited the top management recently. Mr Jayant Kapur, Managing Director of BMIL, said these officials left either on retirement or for personal reasons.

Replying to a query, he said the company would decide on replacement "depending on the requirement". Meanwhile, sources said the company was retaining a few key retired finance officials as consultants.

The company is yet to name a successor to its expat marketing controller, Mr Jeff McDonald, who moved out earlier. Mr Kapur said the company did not find a reason to replace Mr McDonald as it had marketing managers who have gained in experience.

Currently, Mr Vinay Golikeri looks after the marketing of Bacardi portfolio of rums, while the marketing of the ready-to-drink (RTD) business is managed by Mr Saumitra Saigal. Mr Kapur said the company currently had about 140 employees, which included the workforce at its manufacturing plant in Nanjungud near Mysore.

The management streamlining comes at a time when speculation is rife that Bacardi's international headquarters has called for rationalising operations in the wake of the mounting losses that is threatening to wipe out investments made in India. The company did not respond to queries made by Business Line in this regard. No independent information was available on the investments made or the results of operations of the liquor giant in the country. It must be mentioned that Bacardi sold 51 per cent stake in Whytehall India Ltd, a joint venture with Radico Khaitan, to the partner earlier this year.

The Bermuda-based Bacardi, which forayed into the country in 1998, is estimated to sell little over four-lakh cases of spirits annually.

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