Bacardi Limited, the largest privately-held spirits company in the world, appoints Eric Kraus, to a newly created role of Senior Vice President, Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Officer, responsible for the Company’s Corporate Communications, External Affairs, and Corporate Responsibility functions globally.

In this role, Eric will lead all facets of Bacardi's internal and external corporate communications, governmental and public affairs, and corporate responsibility programs in sustainability, social responsibility and philanthropy. He also will serve as a member of the Bacardi Leadership Team and report to Bacardi Limited President and Chief Executive Officer, Ed Shirley.

“We’re thrilled to add Eric to Bacardi. With his extensive career encompassing all facets of corporate, brand, and public affairs communications, he will further drive our commitment to corporate responsibility, company reputation, and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders globally,” said Ed Shirley, President and CEO of family-owned Bacardi Limited. “He is a seasoned leader who believes in the power of integrated communications and collaboration among teams.”

Eric most recently served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs of Covidien plc (formerly Tyco Healthcare) directing Covidien’s internal and external global communications and government affairs strategies.

“I’m excited to join Bacardi—a company with such an incredible heritage with so many respected and enviable brands,” said Eric. “I look forward to leading the team and leveraging the award-winning campaigns that continue to tell the unique story of Bacardi, while furthering our leadership position in responsible marketing and sustainable business practices to build upon our industry, regulator and NGO relationships.”

Prior to joining Covidien in July 2006, Eric was Vice President, External Relations, Gillette, for The Procter & Gamble Company, a position he assumed following the October 2005 merger of P&G and The Gillette Company. Prior to the merger, he served as Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for The Gillette Company. In this position, which he held from July 1999 until the merger, he had worldwide responsibility for all communications and public affairs strategies and functions.

Before joining Gillette in 1993 as Director of Communications for the Gillette North Atlantic Group, Eric was a Public Relations Manager for Miller Brewing Company. Before that, he served as Director of Communications for Scitex America, a digital imaging equipment manufacturer, was an Account Executive at two leading public relations agencies, and a Reporter for the Boston Herald.