Bermuda-based Bacardi Ltd., the largest privately held spirits company in the world, and its wholly-owned affiliate, Bacardi International Limited, yesterday named Silvia Lagnado as chief marketing officer (CMO) of Bacardi Ltd. and president of Bacardi Global Brands.

In the role, she will be responsible for global marketing initiatives for the company's portfolio of premium spirits.

Ms Lagnado joins Bacardi from a 24-year career at Unilever, where she masterminded the "Campaign for Real Beauty" for Dove.

She will join Bacardi by September 1 and will be based in the Bacardi Global Brands headquarters in London.

"I am absolutely delighted to welcome Silvia to Bacardi given her outstanding track record and inspirational leadership in international consumer brand marketing," said Séamus McBride, president and CEO of Bacardi Ltd. and chairman of Bacardi International Ltd.

Ms Lagnado was most recently at Unilever in London where she served as the executive vice-president for savoury products which includes Unilever's largest brand, Knorr.