Laura Petry

VP, Commercial Marketing Director - United States and Canada

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

About

Highly experienced marketer with 25+ years of extensive experience in the global beverage alcohol industry working across a vast portfolio of spirit and wine brands including Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Fords Gin, Korbel Champagne, Sonoma Cutrer Wines and various brands across the single malt, Irish whiskey, vodka and tequila categories. Passionate and strategic leader of high performing cross-functional teams delivering transformational results. Demonstrated success in people development, brand management, trade marketing, customer marketing, sales, finance, distributor relations, trade advocacy, insights, national accounts and innovation in a highly regulated industry.

Experience

  • Brown-Forman (26 yrs)
    • VP, Director Commercial Marketing, United States and Canada
      Apr 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

      Strategic leader of the regional marketing, trade marketing, customer marketing for national/regional accounts and trade advocacy teams. Team of seven direct reports with 50+ team members.

    • VP, Group Brand Director Wine Group
      Jun 2023 - Jul 2025 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      Leading marketing and commercial team of sixteen members for the Korbel Champagne and Sonoma Cutrer Wine brands. Position includes marketing overview of the Sonoma Cutrer Winey Homeplace and close interaction with the Korbel Winery both in Sonoma County

    • VP, Director of Emerging Brands
      Aug 2018 - Jun 2023 · 4 yrs 11 mos

      Emerging Brands Marketing Director. Led team of 11 direct reports and 18 supporting reports. This group was established in 2018 to grow high margin brands at an accelerated rate with focus in the on-premise, trade advocacy and hand selling, Spirit Brands included in this group were Fords Gin and Gin Mare; Old Forester Bourbon; Slane Irish Whiskey; Coopers' Craft Bourbon; Herradura Tequila; Chambord Liqueur; Finlandia Vodka; Glenglassaugh, Glendronach, Benriach Single Malts; Diplomatico Rum, and King of Kentucky limited release bourbon. Was integral part of the transition and onboarding of the newly acquired brands to Brown-Forman with Fords Gin, Diplomatico Rum and Gin Mare. Proven success in managing people and building high performing teams. Results oriented. Established collaborator. Successful in managing both the commercial and marketing side of the business. The Emerging Brand group of brands was one of the highest incremental profit contributors to the bottom line under my leadership including the Covid years and overall 4.5 year CAGR growth of 20%. Extensive collaboration with global marketing teams to build our Irish Whisky, Rum, Gin and Single Malt portfolios.

  • Sourcing Analyst at GE Appliances
    Oct 1998 - Aug 2000 · 1 yr 11 mos

    • Managed the financial components of a $400 million drop-ship rebill program. • Administered global $7 million receivable program for failed refrigeration compressors which encompassed interaction with Asian, Latin American and European sectors. • Originated and implemented quarterly/annual operational plans of monthly $600 million trade payables. • Managed team of four non exempt and nine contract employees. program. • Reduced certification costs of invoices resulting in $40,000 annual savings. • Improved 1099 and unclaimed reporting process through implementation of system automation resulting in reduction of one F.T.E.

  • Analyst at Vencor
    May 1995 - Oct 1998 · 3 yrs 6 mos

    • Conducted corporate and field Prospective Payment System (PPS) training programs for Medicare changes designated by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 which included creation of training material and manuals for implementation at twelve regional offices. • Designed and implemented a Microsoft Access departmental accounting system that accommodated 220 nursing facilities, 62 hospitals, and 22 rehabilitation centers. • Managed the monthly revenue booking and filing of routine cost limit exceptions for 300 nursing facilities.