US: Estee Lauder man joins Brown-Forman board

Brown-Forman Corporation has elected Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne to the company's board of directors.

Bousquet-Chavanne is group president of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

After beginning his career in 1979 at Elizabeth Arden, Bousquet-Chavanne joined Estee Lauder in 1989 as general manager of Aramis International, Inc., and later managed the company's global travel retailing business. He served three years as president of Estee Lauder International, Inc., where he was responsible for the direction of all brands within The Estee Lauder Companies in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Asia Pacific region. He was appointed group president in 2001. Bousquet-Chavanne has earned masters degrees at Ecole Superieure de Commerce in Marseille, France and Purdue University in Indiana.

"Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne's insightful mind and his extensive experience as a consumer-products marketer around the world and as a leading executive at a family-controlled public company make him an ideal addition to our Board," said Brown-Forman chairman Owsley Brown.

"I am honoured to be selected to sit on the board of Brown-Forman Corporation because it has some of the most recognised and sought after brands in the world," stated Bousquet-Chavanne. "The company has an outstanding portfolio of brands with global appeal, an admirable track record and a great tradition. I look forward to helping this dynamic organisation move forward into the future."

As the election of Bousquet-Chavanne becomes effective on 12 May, the size of Brown-Forman's board of directors will increase from 12 to 13.