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Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 13Brown-Forman Seeks New CEO as Lawson Whiting Plans Exit After 7 Years
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 13Summary
- Brown-Forman said Monday that CEO Lawson Whiting will retire and remain in the role until the Jack Daniel’s maker appoints a successor.
- Whiting took over in 2019, putting his tenure at about seven years by the time the leadership transition is completed.
- The search comes as Brown-Forman tries to manage an increasingly difficult alcohol market, adding pressure to the handover.
- The company gave no timeline for naming a new chief executive, leaving the succession process open-ended.
Insights
With its CEO retiring amid buyout offers, is the maker of Jack Daniel's preparing to sell its historic legacy? Can new leadership save an iconic whiskey brand as drinkers increasingly favor ready-to-drink cocktails? Is the CEO's departure a strategic move by the founding family to finally accept a multi-billion dollar merger?