American drinks company Brown-Forman Corporation has announced that it will be making some changes to its organisation structure in order to continue its 'successful globalisation strategy'.
Chief marketing officer John Hayes will become senior vice president, president of USA and Canada.
Hayes has 31 years of experience at Brown-Forman and recently has served as senior vice president, chief marketing officer for Brown-Forman Brands (which includes all brands except for Jack Daniel’s).
Prior to that, he was global brand director for the company’s tequila brands and global brand director for the Jack Daniel’s family of brands.
Company Re-Shuffle
This appointment is one of a series of organisational changes on behalf of Brown-Forman designed to continue the company’s successful strategy of building a portfolio of premium and super-premium spirit brands around the world.
Thomas Hinrichs, currently president of Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands region, will become senior vice president, president of its international division.
Jill Jones, executive vice president and president of the North America Region, will be leaving the company and is set to be replaced by Mark McCallum.
Brown-Forman also revealed the creation of a newly-envisioned Global Corporate Affairs organisation, led by Mike Keyes as senior vice president, chief corporate affairs officer.
The new Global Corporate Affairs organisation will include divisions such as corporate social responsibility, government affairs, family shareholder relations, corporate communications, global community relations, and corporate services.
Proven Global Leadership
In announcing the changes, chief executive officer Paul Varga and chief operating officer Lawson Whiting said they believe that these refinements to the company’s current structure will better enable it to accomplish its strategic ambitions, including its overarching goal of 'Building Forever'.
Lawson Whiting said, "These four seasoned leaders have more than 90 years of combined global brand and region experience, as well as many years of executive leadership at Brown-Forman Corporation.
“They are well prepared to help deliver upon our goals of demonstrating global leadership in premium American whiskey and building a portfolio of premium-plus brands that can meaningfully contribute to both our shorter- and longer-term ambitions.”
Varga added, "From such a strong existing foundation, we are fortunate to have very talented people and valuable brands.
"These leaders, in partnership with their colleagues worldwide, have the knowledge, capabilities, and experience to ensure that Brown-Forman continues to deliver industry-leading results in the years ahead."
In March, the company reported that net sales increased by 9%, to $878 million, in the third quarter, with operating income increasing by 11%, to $304 million.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O'Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
