After 55 Years in the Rum Business, Evon Brown has Announced his Retirement

Evon Brown

     Evon Brown has been a prominent rum industry figure who has held leadership roles in National Rums of Jamaica and WIRSPA (West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association Inc.), announced his retirement after 55 years in the business.   Brown served as a director of the WIRSPA for 31 years with several terms as the chairman.  He went on pre-retirement leave on the first of October and will officially retire in January 2017.

     Over his career, Brown held the role of director of the National Rums of Jamaica Group of Companies for 36 years, chairman of the Caribbean Molasses Company for 39 years, and chairman of the Spirits Pool Association for 20 years.   One of Brown’s many career highlights includes the development of a plan to inject capital in the National Rum Group from Caribbean distillers including the West Indies Rum Distillery of Barbados, Demerara Distillers Ltd from Guyana, and Diageo. As a result, the Group now operates one of the most modern rum distilleries in the region and is now poised to become a more significant player in the international rum market.

   In a statement, National Rums of Jamaica said: “The Directors of National Rums expressed their deepest gratitude to Evon Brown for his unswerving dedication to the rum industry for more than a half century.   His hard work and deep insights in overcoming numerous challenges the industry faced over those years.   “The Board  wishes to convey its tremendous appreciation for the magnificent job which Evon Brown has carried out both for the rum and spirits industry in general and the company in particular over his 55 years in the business.  As of this time, there has not been an announcement of a successor to Evon Brown's position.