Brown-Forman has appointed David Rodiek as Vice President, Managing Director, Global Travel Retail (GTR) effective 1 June, replacing Aude Bourdier who has been named Vice President, Managing Director, Brown-Forman France/BeLux.

 

Respected travel retail drinks veteran, Bourdier was promoted to the Managing Director’s role at Brown-Forman Global Travel Retail in 2020, after joining the division in 2018 from Bacardi-Martini.

 

TRBusiness understands that Bourdier will retain an advisory function to the global travel retail team at Brown-Forman and therefore will continue to represent Brown-Forman on TFWA’s Board and Marketing committee, as well as continuing to serve as Chair of the Academy Advisory group of the Duty Free World Council.

 

“I would like to thank Aude who successfully led the Brown-Forman GTR division through the low points of the pandemic and the more uplifting recovery that is happening now,” said Thomas Hinrichs, Senior Vice President, President, Emerging International, Brown-Forman.

 

BF REINFORCES COMMITMENTS TO GTR

“I feel optimistic about the opportunity ahead and the path that she and her team laid out. Aude now moves on to an exciting new opportunity leading France and BeLux, key markets for Brown-Forman.

 

“The leadership change from Aude to David is done in the spirit of continuity with our strategy and plans for GTR, and it reinforces the commitment that we are making to the GTR channel and our customers for the long term.

 

“We are confident that we have the key strategies and initiatives in place to fully fuel that growth with David Rodiek at the helm.”

 

 

Rodiek joined Brown-Forman in 2005 and most recently served as Vice President, Managing Director, Developing Europe, where he led strategies to grow in the company’s thirty European distributor markets.

 

Rodiek gained leadership experience in commercial and marketing roles, including General Manager Southern/Eastern Europe; General Manager South Africa; Area Director Nordic/Baltics & Nordic Travel Retail; and Brand Director Finlandia Vodka CEE, Russia, CIS & MEA.

 

Prior to joining Brown-Forman, Rodiek worked in the spirits and consumer packaged goods industry at Unilever, Wella, Mars, and Bacardi. He studied in Germany and the UK, completing his education with a master’s degree in business administration from INSEEC International Business School Bordeaux, France.