Brown-Forman reshuffles family board members

Brown-Forman has elected three fifth generation descendants of the company’s founder to its board of directors, as three other family members prepare to step down.

Campbell P. Brown, president of Old Forester, has been elected to the board of directors at Brown-Forman

Campbell P. Brown, Marshall B. Farrer, and Laura L. Frazier have been named directors of Brown-Forman with immediate effect, continuing the family’s long-running representation on the board.

At the same time Martin S. Brown Jr., Sandra A. Frazier, and James S. Welch Jr. have elected not to stand for re-election at the annual shareholders’ meeting in July. Welch will also retire as vice chairman of the company at the end of May.

“We are truly grateful to each of these directors for the guidance and wisdom they have given Brown-Forman over the last decade, a period of remarkable success and growth for the company,” said Brown-Forman’s chairman of the board, Geo. Garvin Brown IV.

“In 2006 Martin and Sandra helped steward the governance of Brown-Forman from the fourth to the fifth generation of the Brown family, and they have helped strike the right balance between our long-term orientation and our performance culture ever since.

“Going forward, the board is very grateful for their continued engagement, oversight, and co-authorship of the governance of the Brown family control group.”

Laura L. Frazier is owner, chairman and past-CEO of interior and commercial design firm Bittners; Marshall B. Farrer is an 18-year employee of Brown-Forman and is vice president and managing director of Global Travel Retail; Campbell P. Brown (pictured) is a 22-year employee of Brown-Forman and is currently president and managing director of Old Forester.

“As founding members of the Brown-Forman Brown Family Shareholders Committee in 2007, Campbell, Marshall, and Laura have helped strengthen the enduring relationship between the long-term shareholders and the company,” continued Brown.

“They now bring that experience along with their other considerable talents and strong values with them to their board service.”