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Brown-Forman Travel Retail Managing Director Patrick Moran’s decision to retire robs the industry of one of its keenest minds and one of the great contributors to the ‘Trinity’ debate of recent years.
Moran was one of the key voices in the acclaimed ‘White Paper’ that came out of the inaugural Trinity Forum in 2003 and he has consistently been one of the most reasoned observers of the travel retail channel.
His experience over many years at DFS, Allied Domecq, Bacardi International, his own consultancy and most recently at Brown-Forman has seen him become a highly astute and respected industry representative and – where necessary – a constructive critic of its shortcomings.
Time and again down the years he has unhesitatingly offered his expertise to those who sought it – not least The Moodie Report – and always without any desire for payback. If the travel retail industry has moved on over recent years in terms of mutual understanding between its various stakeholders then Patrick has been a primary force in that momentum.
We and many others will raise a glass to this most elegant and articulate of men and hope that he still has a contribution to make to the business.
I recruited Patrick from Bacardi in the mid 80’s to be V.P for Liquor and Tobacco at DFS. Patrick & Patricia and their two young boys relocated to San Francisco. A major move considering Patricia had never been to the U.S.
Patrick reported to me for several years and we were not only business colleagues, but also became very good friends. Patrick was extremely capable and while we wished him well when he left DFS and relocated to France he was a great loss.
I am stunned to hear of his passing. I sent Patrick an email a couple weeks back and was surprised at no getting a response.
He was a wonderful person and an extremely capable executive.
Van Taylor
Well put Martin. Patrick will indeed be sorely missed !