US: Brown-Forman elects board member

Brown-Forman has elected John Cook to the company's board of directors.

Cook is a director emeritus of McKinsey & Company, the world's leading management consulting firm. 

His 25-year career with McKinsey has been focussed on the consumer goods industries, Brown-Forman said.

Cook began his career at Procter & Gamble Company and then served a 17-year stint at McKinsey & Co before joining The Kellogg Company in 1999, where held the positions of executive vice president and president of Kellogg North America.  He rejoined McKinsey & Co in 2001.

Brown-Forman presiding board chairman Geo Garvin Brown IV said: "John Cook has excellent credentials in the consumer goods sector, as well as a wonderful track record of strategic counsel."

Brown-Forman also announced that Barry Bramley, a director since 1996, is retiring from the board effective 28 September, upon reaching the customary retirement age of 71.

Brown commented: "Barry has served our company in a variety of ways with great distinction over the last 12 years and we thank him for his many contributions, including his important service as Chairman of one of our subsidiary Boards and his sage counsel during the company's formative international growth phase."

The election of Cook and retirement of Bramley leaves Brown-Forman's Board with 13 directors.