HONG KONG. DFS Group announced today that the much-respected John Hoover will retire on 30 April as Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager for Spirits, Wine, Tobacco, Food and Gifts, after 16 years of service.
Brooke Supernaw, currently Vice President, Spirits and Wine, will assume the role of Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager for Spirits, Wine, and Tobacco.
“On behalf of DFS Group, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to John for his many years of dedication to DFS,” said DFS Group President, Global Merchandising Harold Brooks. “For more than a decade, he has provided invaluable leadership, and our consumables business has benefitted significantly from his consistent efforts and experience.”
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Natural succession: John Hoover steps down after giving 16 years outstanding service to DFS and the industry; now the wine, spirits and tobacco business, which has grown significantly in line with the retailer’s resurgence in the airport channel, is placed in the well-regarded hands of Brooke Supernaw |
Hoover has held his current role since 2012. After joining the Group in 1997, he went on to serve in Guam, San Francisco and Hong Kong, becoming instrumental to the growth of DFS’ consumables business, the company said.
DFS noted that Hoover played a pivotal role in the group’s relocation from its former headquarters of San Francisco to Hong Kong, which began in 2008. He led the relocation of one of the first two Global Merchandising Groups with the establishment of the new Merchandising Office in Hong Kong, laying the foundations for others to follow.
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John Hoover (Left) and Brooke Supernaw (centre) have played key roles in the development of DFS’s Master of Spirits (now Masters of Wines and Spirits). Here they are seen at Masters of Spirits II in 2012 with then Managing Director South East Asia & the Middle East Craig McKenna; President Global Merchandising Harold Brooks; and then DFS Group President Merchandising & Marketing Philippe Schaus (now Chairman and CEO) |
Hoover also spearheaded the launch of Masters of Wines and Spirits, which celebrated its third consecutive edition in 2013.
Noting that Hoover was widely respected within the travel retail industry, DFS said that he holds numerous professional honours, including distinction from Jarudes de St Emilion, the oldest wine society in the world and Keepers of the Quaich. The former is in recognition for his support of the wines of St Emilion and the latter for outstanding service to the Scotch Whisky industry.
In her new role, Supernaw will be responsible for the development of vision and strategy for the Spirits, Wine, and Tobacco categories.
She joined DFS in September 2006 as Merchandise Manager, Spirits in San Francisco. In 2009 she was promoted to Director, Spirits and in 2012 became Vice President, Spirits and Wine. Supernaw has also played an integral role in the success of Masters of Wines and Spirits.
COMMENT
Somehow the business won’t seem the same without John Hoover at DFS, writes Martin Moodie. Undoubtedly he has been one of the key figures within the spirits and wine industry in particular over recent years, playing a lead role in the premiumisation and differentiation strategies that have been so important to DFS in prime locations such as Changi Airport and, more recently, at Hong Kong International Airport.
Popular and respected in equal measure, he has also given of his time generously to many (including us) and been closely involved in many of DFS’s charitable initiatives.
His qualities were well summed up by Rémy Cointreau Managing Director Global Travel Retail Peter Sant, who told The Moodie Report: “It has been a real pleasure working with John. He appears humble in his approach, giving credit to all those around him, but he is always at the centre of major projects, being instrumental in a number of important DFS initiatives, transforming the liquor landscape in travel retail.
“On a personal note he is genuinely one of the really nice guys and I wish him a long and productive retirement.”
DFS places great emphasis on transition and succession, and the promotion of the ebullient Brooke Supernaw will ensure its spirits, wine and tobacco business – which has grown significantly over recent times thank to the retailer’s resurgence in the airport sector – is in good hands.
