Kirsten Hawley
About Kirsten Hawley
Kirsten Hawley serves as the EVP, Chief People, Places, & Communications Officer at Brown-Forman, where she has worked for nearly three decades. She has held various leadership roles within the company, focusing on human resources, corporate communications, and organizational development.
Current Role at Brown-Forman
Kirsten Hawley serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief People, Places, & Communications Officer at Brown-Forman. She has held this position since 2023, contributing to the company's strategic direction and leadership. In addition to her current role, she has been the Senior Vice President, Chief People, Places, and Communications Officer since 2021. Her extensive experience within the company spans nearly three decades, showcasing her commitment to the organization.
Previous Positions at Brown-Forman
Throughout her career at Brown-Forman, Kirsten Hawley has held various leadership roles. She served as the Senior Vice President, Chief HR & Corporate Communications Officer from 2019 to 2021, and as the Senior Vice President, Chief HR Officer from 2015 to 2019. Earlier in her career, she worked as the HR Development Consultant and held multiple positions in leadership development and employee engagement, including Director, Executive Career Development and Manager, Leadership Development.
Education and Professional Development
Kirsten Hawley holds a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston University, which she completed between 1992 and 1994. She also earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science & Communications from James Madison University from 1987 to 1991. In 2021, she participated in an Executive Education program at Harvard Business School, focusing on Compensation Committees: New Challenges, New Solutions.
Background and Experience
Kirsten Hawley has a diverse background that includes experience outside of Brown-Forman. She worked as a University of Maryland Educational Consultant at City Colleges of Chicago in Berlin, Germany, from 1991 to 1993, and as a Research Assistant at the Max Planck Institute during the same period. Her roles at Brown-Forman have provided her with extensive experience in leadership and company culture, emphasizing the importance of core values.
Commitment to Workplace Culture
Kirsten Hawley is dedicated to fostering authenticity, inclusion, and humility within the workplace. She believes in the value of collaboration, recognizing that while it can be challenging, it often leads to more innovative solutions. Her personal interest in making cocktails, including a Manhattan, reflects her cultural engagement with Brown-Forman's product offerings.