The head of UK & Ireland operations for Brown-Forman is heading across the Atlantic to take up the reins at the company’s ‘USA & Canada’ division.
Jeremy Shepherd, who joined the Jack Daniel’s brand owner in 2005 after nine years with Bacardi, will assume the role of president at the North American unit next month. Replacing him in London is Ryan Van Arnam, who becomes MD for the UK & Ireland on 1 July.
Van Arnam transitioned from E&J Gallo Winery to Brown-Forman in 2007, moving up to his current role as MD for the east of the US as well as Canada three years ago. He will report in to Europe president Marshall Farrer.
Earlier this week, Brown-Forman reported a 17% increase in year-on-year sales from the 12 months to the end of April. The financial year finished with a flourish, with the top line jumping 27% in the closing quarter.
Of particular cheer to the group was Jack Daniel’s return to healthier volumes following the worst of the pandemic. The Tennessee whiskey sold 14m nine-litre cases over the 12 months, beating volumes of 13m cases in pre-COVID fiscal-2020.
