Dougal Shaw- 8 October 2024
Since 2017 Fawn Weaver has been building a new global whisky brand from Tennessee in the US, called Uncle Nearest. It stands out because it is inspired by the first known African American master distiller, Nathan “Nearest” Green. He was a former slave who worked very closely with Jack Daniel. It’s a story that fascinated Weaver when she first learned about it in 2016, so much so that she relocated from Los Angeles to Tennessee with her husband to learn more about the Green family – and ultimately launch a new spirits brand.
That brand hit annual revenues of $100m in 2022. She is something of a trailblazer herself, as a woman of colour leading a major spirits company. She discusses her business journey - from leaving home at age 15 in Los Angeles to the strategies that helped her create a successful challenger brand, in an industry notoriously difficult to break into…
Related and recommended
From Rolls-Royce to Marks & Spencer, these CEOs show how decisive leadership can transform Britain’s biggest companies
Rolls-Royce is one of the most famous names in British business, but its financial performance has rarely matched its reputation. Until now. Tufan Erginbilgiç is our CEO of the Year
Years of decline have hollowed out London’s listing market, but founders, banks and ministers are quietly pushing for a revival
Healthcare and income tax require radical reform, but the Budget revealed little ambition to tackle the big issues