Stories
Whisky is a passion to explore. From the history of the spirit to the evolution of the industry, the story of whisky helps fuel that passion. Often, it’s easy to forget that whisky is also a global multibillion dollar industry. The stories of whisky — from news and new releases to in-depth inquires and what goes on behind the label — blend together to help us appreciate the spirit of whisky.
Sazerac CEO to Step Aside
Longtime Sazerac CEO Mark Brown will turn over the reins of the privately-held company to Jake Wenz on July 1. Brown will become Sazerac’s executive chairman after the transition.
Wenz joined Sazerac as chief operating officer in 2015 as part of a long-term succession plan, and was promoted to chief commercial officer in 2019. He is a former Frito-Lay executive.
Brown has been the company’s president and CEO since 1997, when he returned to Sazerac after five years at Brown-Forman. He first joined Sazerac in 1981 as director of new products, and worked his way through the executive ranks to vice president of sales and marketing before leaving in 1992 to join Brown-Forman.
In addition to his executive work, Brown is known for his daily rundown of spirits industry news emailed each morning to several thousand people across the industry. It is not known whether he will continue the newsletter after the transition.
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