Brown-Forman CEO Lawson Whiting to retire

USA – Brown-Forman has announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Lawson Whiting plans to retire from the global spirits company, prompting the board to begin a search for his successor. 

The company, which owns leading brands including Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve and Old Forester, said Whiting will remain in his current role until a new chief executive is appointed. Following the leadership transition, he will continue to support the business in an advisory capacity for a period of time to ensure a smooth handover. 

Brown-Forman confirmed that the board is considering both internal and external candidates as part of the succession process. 

Chairman Marshall Farrer praised Whiting’s leadership, saying he had successfully guided the company through a period of significant economic and industry challenges. 

Farrer said Whiting had led Brown-Forman “through an era of macro challenges and change.”  

He added, “Jack Daniel’s extended its presence into new international markets and categories, Woodford Reserve grew into the world’s leading super-premium American whiskey, and our founding brand, Old Forester, tripled in volume and increased net sales six-fold over the last decade.” 

Whiting joined Brown-Forman in 1997 in corporate development and went on to hold senior roles across investor relations, finance, brand strategy and regional leadership. He later served as Chief Brands and Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer before being appointed President and CEO in 2019. 

Reflecting on his tenure, Whiting said, “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead Brown-Forman. I have every confidence that the succession process will surface the right leader for Brown-Forman’s next generation of growth, and I look forward to supporting a seamless handoff that ensures our momentum never wavers.” 

Alongside the leadership announcement, Brown-Forman reaffirmed its fiscal 2027 outlook, which was first issued on June 4. The company expects net sales to remain approximately flat, while forecasting a 3% to 5% decline in organic operating income. 

In its annual results statement, Brown-Forman said it expects “the operating environment for fiscal 2027 [to] remain challenging.” 

For the financial year ended April 30, the company reported net sales of US$3.9 billion, representing a 1% year-on-year decline. 

Earlier this year, Brown-Forman and Pernod Ricard confirmed they had held discussions regarding a potential partnership similar to a merger of equals. However, the companies announced in April that the negotiations had concluded without reaching an agreement. 

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