Brown-Forman restructures business with new divisions

Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman has restructured its business with the creation of two new subsidiaries for Europe and its emerging markets.

Lawson Whiting, Brown-Forman CEO: “We must have an agile and simplified organisational structure”

The organisational change will see Brown-Forman have two new divisions: Brown-Forman Europe and Brown-Forman Emerging International.

As part of this restructure, the company has named Marshall Farrer president of Brown-Forman Europe and Thomas Hinrichs president of Brown-Forman Emerging International.

Farrer will now join Hinrichs on the executive leadership team. The changes will be effective from 1 August 2020.

“As we seek to deliver balanced geographic growth with competitive routes to consumers, we must have an agile and simplified organisational structure,” said Lawson Whiting, president and CEO, Brown-Forman. “Thomas and Marshall are innovative and resourceful leaders who reflect the values of Brown-Forman.”

With 23 year of experience at Brown-Forman, the group said Hinrichs has in-depth knowledge of driving growth in emerging markets. The markets in the new unit include: global travel retail (GTR), Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Russia, CIS countries, Turkey, India, the Middle East and Africa.

Farrer most recently led the developed Asia Pacific and GTR markets for Brown-Forman and brings 22 years of experience as a leader of regions and brands. He offers a “unique perspective” to both the Europe division and the executive leadership team as a member of the company’s board of directors and as a shareholder.

Earlier this week, Brown-Forman reported a 1% net sales increase for its 2020 fiscal year, however the Covid-19 pandemic “negatively affected” the company’s major markets during its fourth quarter.