Distillers to debate family vs public companies

The benefits of family ownership in the spirits industry versus publicly listed companies will come under the spotlight in the upcoming Distillers’ City Debate.

The Distillers’ City Debate will take place on 3 May

The motion of the debate will be: ‘This house believes that family companies think about the long term, publicly-owned companies focus on the now.’

Taking place on 3 May at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, King Edward Hall, in London, the debate will be hosted by The Worshipful Company of Distillers.

Speaking in favour of the motion will be Lizzy Rudd, chairman of Berry Bros & Rudd, and Victor Jerez, global business development director for William Grant & Sons. Opposing the motion will be Colin Gordon, former strategy and business development director for IDV, and Tristan van Strien, equities analyst – beverages at Redburn Partners.

Rudd comments: “As a 300-year-old business we have always taken a long-term view. We focus on continuity and sustainable growth, looking decades ahead rather than the next one to five years, to hand on an even better business to the next generation.”

Meanwhile, van Strien argues: “The liquor industry landscape is littered with the dry bodies of second generation family members.”

Tickets for the debate are available now and are free of charge. The debate will run from 6.30pm-7.45pm and the Distillers’ Bar will serve spirits and canapés until 9pm.

Last year’s debate focused on whether innovation was a more effective tool for industry growth than acquisition. The audience voted in favour of acquisition following convincing arguments from former Diageo CEO Paul Walsh and Simon Hales, MD of European equity research at Barclays Investment Bank.

To book tickets, email distillerscitydebate@lbmw.com, or call 020 7960 7173.