Yiannis Pafilis
About Yiannis Pafilis
Yiannis Pafilis serves as the Vice President and General Manager for Germany, Czechia, and Europe Commercial Strategy at Brown-Forman, a position he has held since 2020. He has extensive experience within the company, having worked in various managerial roles across Europe since 1998.
Work at Brown-Forman
Yiannis Pafilis has held multiple positions at Brown-Forman since joining the company. He currently serves as the VP, General Manager for Germany, Czechia, and Europe Commercial Strategy, a role he has occupied since 2020 in Hamburg, Germany. Prior to this, he was the General Manager for Germany and Czechia from 2017 to 2020. His earlier roles at Brown-Forman include Country General Manager for Russia from 2014 to 2017 and Group General Manager for Southeast Europe from 2012 to 2014. He also served as Country General Manager for Greece and Cyprus from 2006 to 2011 and as Area Sales Director from 1998 to 2006.
Education and Expertise
Yiannis Pafilis earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Mass Communication/Media Studies from Oklahoma City University, where he studied from 1990 to 1993. His educational background provides a foundation for his extensive career in commercial strategy and management within the beverage industry. This expertise has been demonstrated through his various leadership roles at Brown-Forman, where he has developed and executed strategies across multiple regions.
Background
Before joining Brown-Forman, Yiannis Pafilis worked at Kosmocar S.A. - Audi as the Marketing Communications Manager from 1995 to 1998. His experience in marketing communications contributed to his skills in managing commercial strategies and operations in the beverage sector. Over the years, he has gained significant experience in various markets, including Southeast Europe and Russia, which has informed his approach to managing diverse teams and strategies.
Professional Experience Timeline
Yiannis Pafilis has a comprehensive professional history with Brown-Forman, beginning as Area Sales Director from 1998 to 2006. He then served as Country General Manager for Greece and Cyprus from 2006 to 2011, followed by Group General Manager for Southeast Europe from 2012 to 2014. He continued as Country General Manager for Russia from 2014 to 2017 and transitioned to General Manager for Germany and Czechia from 2017 to 2020. He has held his current position since 2020.