DEMERARA Distillers Limited (DDL) is now headed by Komal Samaroo who officially took over the helm of the company yesterday from the former chairman, veteran entrepreneur, Dr. Yesu Persaud.

At a press conference yesterday at the company’s office in Kingston, Georgetown, Persaud officially handed over the reins to Samaroo with a firm handshake and smiles on both sides.
In his remarks Persaud reflected on the journey the company has travelled and his own involvement two years before the new chairman joined DDL.
He pointed out that the company came into being after two companies had gone bankrupt several decades ago and diligent work has earned it a coveted place among its competitors and within the business community, especially those in the business of spirits and wines.
A few weeks ago Dr. Persaud announced that he will no longer be heading the company but yesterday he indicated that he will be around to offer advice and play a role in other aspects of the company in which the board has an interest.
The company over the years has been able to compete with the best in other parts of the world while securing a number of international accolades for its brands of rum.
Samaroo has been with the company almost as long as Persaud but while not in the limelight, he has been busy creating and securing overseas markets for the company.
He has spent the last eight years ensuring that the El Dorado brand, as well as other DDL products, finds a secure place in world markets.
With his ability to sell and market and the contacts built over the years, Samaroo seems to be the right man for the job and according to Dr. Persaud, anything he knows, Samaroo knows.
In his first public engagement as the new DDL chairman, Samaroo said that the company has over the years been working on its sales and marketing and while the figures for profits in 2012 were acceptable, he said that he is even more confident that come 2013 the profits are likely to surpass the 30% mark.

(By Leroy Smith)