Ricardo “Tito” Gonzalez has joined German spirits company Waldemar Behn GmbH as Regional Director Latin America and Caribbean, effective March 1.
Gonzalez will focus on growing Danzka Vodka in the region, and expanding the distribution of Dooley’s Original Toffee Cream Liqueur and other brands owned by the company.
Gonzalez brings 15 years of spirits industry experience to his new position, having worked as an area manager at the Cruzan Rum Distillery, area manager Latin America for the V & S Sprits Company (Absolut) and Regional Director Latin America for Imperial Brands, Inc. overseeing the duty paid, duty free and travel retail business. His most recent position was on the retail side of the business, as Category Director for Grupo Wisa in Panama.
“This is the third time in his career that Tito is working with Danzka Vodka over the past ten years,” says Torben Vedel Andersen, Global Sales Director. “He worked with me at V & S Sprits when it owned Danzka, and again at Group Belvedere’s Imperial Brands, when it owned Danzka. He has a deep understanding of the history and marketing of the brand.”
“We are delighted to welcome Tito back to the Danzka family. With his knowledge of purchasing and logistics on the store level and his long familiarity with Danzka in the region, he knows both sides of the business and brings a unique set of skills that will keep the momentum strong as we continue to grow our brands in the Americas,” comments Rüdiger Behn, president of Waldemar Behn.
“This is a great opportunity for me to now focus on the brand, especially with Waldemar Behn where Danzka is a priority. I think that the brand has found its home with Behn,” adds Gonzalez.
Gonzalez will be working with the company’s regional distributors in place in Latin America and says that the Mercosur market will be a first priority.
Waldemar Behn will be exhibiting at the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas in a new booth area, #223, and will be introducing its new Danzka Vodka Apple to the Americas market in Orlando, following a very successful launch at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes. It is the first flavor expansion of Danzka Vodka in ten years.
“We are very excited about the development of our business in the Americas in 2015, both with the addition of Tito to our team and the launch of Danzka Vodka Apple,” says Andersen.
