Oliver Winery Names Patrick Brown Chief Executive Officer
25 July 2024 - 11:00PM
Business Wire
Proven CPG Leader to Lead Next Chapter of
Growth for Major Wine Industry Player
Oliver Winery, the 30th largest winery in the U.S., today
announced that Patrick Brown was named Chief Executive Officer,
effective July 22, 2024. A consumer goods expert, Brown is a
30-year veteran of the highly competitive and fast-moving global
consumer goods (FMCG) industry. His deep expertise across grocery,
nutrition, health, and personal care and his relationships with
global retailers bring valuable knowledge and perspective to Oliver
Winery.
“I could not be happier to join Oliver Winery. With a great
brand, outstanding products, and phenomenal operations
capabilities, this business has all the tools to scale to the next
level,” said Brown. “Using my experiences and background of scaling
businesses, my goal is to build Oliver into the market’s next big
growth story. I’m looking forward to joining this high-caliber team
and becoming part of the Oliver family.”
Brown has successfully led within multi-national consumer goods
companies, such as Unilever and Johnson & Johnson, as well as
for breakout brands, such as KIND Snacks. Prior to joining Oliver
Winery, Brown was President and CEO at Vega Nutrition, successfully
cultivating a highly engaged leadership team and profitable growth
for the brand. Before Vega Nutrition, Brown spent eight years with
WhiteWave Foods Co., parent company of brands such as Silk, Horizon
Organic, and International Delight. There, he fostered significant
distribution and sales increases that positioned WhiteWave for
strategic acquisition from Danone.
"I believe Pat Brown will be an ideal leader to continue Oliver
Winery’s track record of category leadership and innovation,” added
Bill Oliver, Oliver Winery founder and board member. “For 15 years,
Julie’s leadership has moved Oliver Winery forward. Pat’s deep
consumer goods expertise and connections will bring even more power
to our brand.”
Brown succeeds Julie Adams as she works toward her planned
retirement in 2025. In the coming year, Adams will oversee Oliver
Winery operations as President. During the transition and after her
retirement, Adams will continue as a member of the company’s Board
of Directors.
"For many years, we’ve been laying a foundation for Oliver to
become the leader in sweet and flavored wine,” said Adams. “We have
a tenured management team and many years of significant beverage
experience on our board. Adding Pat Brown’s decades of leadership
and his deep understanding of the CPG world is exciting. I’m
confident he is the right leader for another incredible chapter in
the Oliver Winery story."
About Oliver Winery
Founded in 1972, Bloomington-based Oliver Winery has been
bringing thoughtful and flavorful innovations to the industry for
50+ years. Named the 30th largest winery in the U.S. by Wine
Business Monthly, Oliver is a national brand with rising demand.
Accelerated growth in recent years brought Oliver to 43 states,
with an annual production of 725,000 cases. Oliver is one of Travel
& Leisure’s top 25 wineries to visit in the U.S. The brand was
named to Shanken’s Market Watch “Impact HOT Brand List” three
consecutive years (2019, 2020, and 2021) and qualified as a Market
Watch Blue Chip Brand in 2022. Oliver has recently invested in
additional capacity and state-of-the-art production facility on its
Bloomington, Ind. campus. Even as the company grows, Oliver remains
true to its roots – producing refreshingly real, forward-thinking,
approachable wines. Visit oliverwinery.com to learn more.
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Oliver Winery Sarah Anderson, VP Marketing
sanderson@oliverwinery.com 812-935-9239