India's Mr Jack Daniel's, Amrit Kiran Singh, will have a new boss soon, with J. Andrew Smith announcing his intention to retire as Brown-Forman's President for Europe, Africa and Eurasia, on May 31.

After contributing much to the company's international growth and success over the last 16 years, Smith has decided to take a sabbatical. Upon returning from his break, Smith plans to focus his energy and talents on philanthropic causes, along perhaps with possible service as a non-executive director on a corporate board, according to a Business Wire news release.

Smith joined Brown-Forman in 1990 as Vice-President and Marketing Director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He was promoted to Executive Vice- President and Director of Marketing for Brown-Forman International the next year.

When Brown-Forman Beverages Worldwide was created in 1994 to help expand the company's business in overseas markets, Smith was named President of Brown-Forman's Core Markets Group, responsible for the company's spirits brands in Western Europe and Japan.

He was named to his present position in 2001. "It is not an exaggeration to say that Andrew Smith is one of the key executive leaders responsible for leading Brown-Forman's remarkable international growth over the last 12 years," said Brown-Forman Chief Executive Officer Paul Varga. He said a successor to Smith would be named in the near future.