UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of
earliest event reported): January 15, 2004
Brown-Forman Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-123 61-0143150
(State or other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
850 Dixie Highway, Louisville, Kentucky 40210
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (502) 585-1100
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits.
99 Press Release, dated January 15, 2004
Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure
Brown-Forman Corporation issued a press release today announcing the appointment
of James D. Hanauer as the chief executive officer of Brown-Forman's subsidiary,
Lenox, Inc. A copy of Brown-Forman Corporation's press release is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Brown-Forman Corporation
(Registrant)
Date: January 15, 2004 By: /s/ Nelea A. Absher
Nelea A. Absher
Vice President, Senior Counsel
& Assistant Secretary
Exhibit 99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BROWN-FORMAN EXECUTIVE NAMED CEO AT LENOX
Louisville, KY, January 15, 2004 - Brown-Forman Corporation Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer Owsley Brown II and Lenox, Inc. Chairman Barry Bramley
announced today the appointment of James D. Hanauer as the chief executive
officer of Brown-Forman's subsidiary, Lenox, Inc.
"I am confident Jay Hanauer will provide the strong leadership Lenox needs to
guide it through its challenges to sustained prosperity," stated Brown. "As
president of Brown-Forman Distillery Company for the last eight years, Jay
formed and led an excellent team that has consistently created and implemented
innovative ways to improve our products. His demonstrated creativity and
leadership skills will greatly benefit the Lenox organization."
Stanley E. Krangel, who has been president of Lenox since 1998, has resigned to
pursue interests outside the company. As president, Krangel operated under the
strategic oversight of Bramley, the non-executive chairman of Lenox, who
represents the Lenox Board and its Brown-Forman parent. "We appreciate Stan's
contributions to Lenox's success during his tenure with the company and we wish
him well in all his future endeavors," said Bramley.
Bramley made special note of the fact that Hanauer will be the chief executive
officer of Lenox, a role that no individual has had at the company in recent
years. "By appointing Jay as CEO, we are giving him full responsibility for
running the Lenox business," stated Bramley. "As a result, the need for my
active management as non-executive chairman is greatly diminished, which allows
me the opportunity to fulfill the promise I made to my family to give up the
chairmanship at the end of the fiscal year (April 30, 2004). I feel very
confident that Jay and the management team at Lenox, with oversight from the
Lenox Board, will now progress in strengthening and growing the Lenox portfolio
of brands."
Hanauer joined Brown-Forman in 1996 as president of Brown-Forman Distillery
Company and has been responsible for the general management of all production
aspects of the company's global spirits business. He has also been a valuable
member of Brown-Forman's executive committee since 1999, contributing to the
overall strategic direction of the company. In 2003, he also took on additional
responsibility of overseeing supply chain management for Brown-Forman's global
beverage business. Over the past six months, he has led Brown-Forman's
comprehensive strategic review of the Lenox business, which identified potential
solutions to a number of challenges facing the company as well as prospective
ways it might take advantage of new opportunities.
Prior to joining Brown-Forman, Hanauer was supply chain vice president for the
North American beverage division of Quaker Oats, and before that he gained
valuable experience working for the Pepsi Cola Company and Proctor & Gamble. He
is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati.
"I am excited and honored about being given the chance to lead such a great
company," stated Hanauer. "Lenox is famous for its classic designs and I look
forward to continuing the great heritage of the company while also striving to
increase its relevance with today's and tomorrow's consumer."
Succeeding Hanauer as president of Brown-Forman Distillery Company will be James
B. Chiles. Since 1993, Chiles has been senior vice president of Brown-Forman
Distillery Company, directing the production operations of the company's
distilleries and overseeing its engineering and research & development
departments. Chiles has deep and varied management and leadership experiences at
Brown-Forman for over 30 years. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University.
Lenox, Inc., based in Lawrenceville, N.J., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Brown-Forman Corporation. Lenox includes Lenox China, Crystal, & Giftware, Lenox
Collections, the Lenox-Kirk Stieff Collection, Gorham Silver & Crystal, and
Dansk Contemporary Tabletop, Housewares, and Giftware.
Brown-Forman Corporation is a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality
consumer products, including Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka,
Canadian Mist, Fetzer and Bolla Wines, Korbel California Champagnes, Lenox,
Dansk, and Gorham tableware and giftware and Hartmann Luggage.