James Lloyd Bareuther
Executive Vice President, Global Business Development
James L. Bareuther is executive vice president for global business development of Brown-Forman Corporation, one of the world's top ten wine and spirits companies headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
Bareuther is responsible for Brown-Forman’s work with key industry organizations in the global spirits and wine business. In addition, he works very closely with the company’s corporate affairs team on global trade policies and practices.
Bareuther recently stepped down as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the company. In this role, he was responsible for Brown-Forman’s spirits and wine business across the globe. Bareuther, who will reach the company’s mandatory retirement age in September, 2010, served as COO for the company since 2003. His transition to the current role is part of the company’s succession planning process for its senior executives and next-in-line leaders.
Prior to joining Brown-Forman in 1994 as director of sales, Bareuther was executive vice president of sales and marketing for the Seagram Classics Wine Company in New York and California. He previously worked for Beringer Vineyards, a leading wine firm in Napa Valley, California. Bareuther earned a bachelor's degree from San Jose State College in 1967 and served as a naval flight officer in the United States Navy from 1968-1973.
Bareuther currently serves as chairman of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), a national trade association based in Washington, D.C., representing producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the U.S. He also is chairman of The Century Council, an organization funded by the nation’s leading distillers that develops, executes, and finances programs designed to fight underage drinking and drunk driving. Bareuther has also recently joined the board of Share Our Strength, a non-profit organization that works to make sure no child in America grows up hungry.
A native of California, Jim and his wife reside in Louisville, Kentucky. Bareuther is Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the College of Business and Public Administration at the University of Louisville, and serves on the Board of Overseers of the University of Louisville.