Executive Team

Rebecca Wesson Darwin is the cofounder and CEO of Garden & Gun and president and CEO of the Allée Group LLC. The group owns Garden & Gun magazine, which launched in spring 2007. After moving to Charleston, South Carolina, following a successful career in publishing in New York City, Darwin and her cofounding partner recognized a gap in the market for a publication that truly captured the essence of the South. Their vision was to create a magazine that resonated with both men and women, celebrating the sporting life, adventurous travel, and the pleasures of exceptional food and drink.

For almost two decades, Garden & Gun has consistently been recognized as an industry leader. Award highlights include the number two hottest launch of 2007 among more than seven hundred magazines, two National Magazine Awards in General Excellence; the National Magazine Awards winner for Most Delicious Cover; a two-time finalist of the James Beard Foundation Journalism Award; the Society of Publication Designers Brand of the Year Award, and the American Society of Magazine Editors’ Reader’s Choice Award. 

The multiplatform media company, led by Darwin, has flourished under her direction. It is anchored by its award-winning national magazine, website, and digital newsletters, and has expanded its reach through various initiatives. These include the Fieldshop by Garden & Gun retail experience, Garden & Gun Clubs at the Battery Atlanta and the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, three New York Times best-selling books, and the exclusive members-only G&G Society. Additionally, the brand hosts over sixty events annually.

Darwin grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and then moved to New York. She established her career at GQ, where she implemented national retail advertising and promotion programs. She later became the first female publisher of the New Yorker, the publisher of Mirabella, and the marketing director of Fortune. She currently serves on the board for Spoleto Festival USA. In 2021 she was inducted into the prestigious North Carolina Media & Journalism Hall of Fame and in 2024 received The Order of the Palmetto—the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina.

Her immersion in the worlds of media, fashion, advertising, and business brings an understanding and grace to the world of Garden & Gun. Darwin resides in historic downtown Charleston with her husband, Cress; her two daughters, Lily and SaSa; and French bulldog, Penelope.

David DiBenedetto is the senior vice president and editor in chief of Garden & Gun, where he oversees all content. During his tenure, the magazine has been nominated for seven National Magazine Awards, taking home the award for General Excellence in 2014. Previously he was the editor of Salt Water Sportsman, where he led the title to its first-ever National Magazine Award nomination (General Excellence). Prior to his time at Salt Water Sportsman, DiBenedetto was the deputy editor of Field & Stream. He began his career at Men’s Journal.

Also an author, DiBenedetto wrote On the Run: An Angler’s Journey Down the Striper Coast in 2003 (HarperCollins). His writing has appeared in GQ, Rolling Stone, and Outdoor Life and has been anthologized in Best American Sports Writing. He has overseen the publication of five Garden & Gun books: The New York Times best-selling titles The Southerner’s Handbook, Good Dog, and The Southerner’s Cookbook, and newer editions S is for Southern and Southern Women.

DiBenedetto was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, and now resides in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife, Jenny; their two children; and their dog, a Labrador retriever named Story.

Christian Bryant is senior vice president and publisher of Garden & Gun, where he oversees the creation of media partnerships which authentically deepen the connection with brand partners and the magazine’s highly engaged audience. In this role, Bryant supervises the national advertising sales team and the brand’s integrated marketing group.

Prior to joining Garden & Gun in November 2013, Bryant held positions at Condé Nast, Meredith Corporation, and Hearst, working with publications such as Bon Appétit, Harper’s Bazaar, Martha Stewart Living, and Vanity Fair.

Throughout his career, Bryant developed critical understanding of the strategies and programming which lead to success in magazine publishing, including how editorial and advertising succeed when they speak with one voice; how brands excel when they connect organically to the passions of readers; and how the goals of all departments are inextricably tied to each other’s success. This experience has guided Bryant’s tenure at Garden & Gun and continues to inform the brand’s mission.