Bacardi has announced the return of company veteran Jeff Branson as its VP for Canada. Branson rejoins the brand owner following two years working at partner Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS), where he was the senior VP of sales for the division dedicated to Bacardi’s portfolio in North America. He will report in to Pete Carr, Bacardi North America’s regional president, and will be based in Toronto. The Bacardi veteran, who has worked at the spirits group for 16 of his 20 years in the alcohol industry, will be responsible for the performance of Bacardi in Canada across all functions and activities. Branson replaces Blair MacNeil in the role, who has since left Bacardi. “As we look toward the next chapter for Bacardi in Canada, Jeff has the perfect blend of industry knowledge, Bacardi insights and understanding of the local market in order to deliver on our growth plans,” said Carr. “Jeff has the experience and leadership skills to deliver on our goals while inspiring teams to continue the legacy of the unique Bacardi culture.” Earlier this month, a US court thwarted Bacardi’s latest attempt to regain control of the ‘Havana Club’ trademark in the country, ruling that the company could not sue the US Patent & Trademark Office over its 2016 renewal of Cubaexport’s ownership of the trademark in the country. Spirits’ fallout from Russia’s attack on Ukraine - Click here for a Just Drinks comment