Brown-Forman’s veteran president and CEO Lawson Whiting has announced he will retire after nearly 30 years with the company.
The Jack Daniel’s owner has launched the search for a successor, and Whiting will step aside once the search is complete. He would remain available to serve in an advisory capacity for a “period of time” following their appointment, the company said.
Chairman Marshall Farrer thanked Lawson for his dedication to the company over many years.
“Lawson has been a steadfast steward of founder George Garvin Brown’s vision – leading this company through an era of macro challenges and change with a clear and consistent vision for building the most premium portfolio in the industry and ensuring there was ‘nothing better in the market.’”
Under his leadership, Brown-Forman has pushed into new international markets and categories, while growing the sales and stature of its US domestic products, including its founding brand Old Forester, which has made the group’s portfolio “one of the most respected in the global spirits industry”.
Farrer added that the board appreciated Lawson’s “ample notice”, as it would provide the opportunity for a robust review of internal and external talent.
Whiting said it had been the “privilege of a lifetime” to lead the company.
“From my earliest days with the company to my time as CEO, my tenure has been defined by the extraordinary people I have worked alongside,” he said.
“We are entering this transition from a position of strength. Brown-Forman has principled leadership, a foundation of iconic brands, and a global team with immense depth and talent.
“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.”
Brown-Forman’s sales were flat at $3.9bn in results for the 2026 financial year released in June. The first financials for the company since it rejected a $15bn takeover from Sazerac, and failed to agree a mega-merger with Pernod Ricard, they showed a “challenging” year ahead in 2027.
The company said it expected sales to remain flat. Brown-Forman is currently undertaking a global restructure expected to reduce the size of its workforce by 12%.
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