Author: Sarah Oslund

Jack Edwards Appointed President of Johnson Brothers

Johnson Brothers is proud to announce the appointment of Jack Edwards as its new President. Edwards will lead the continued development of the company’s differentiated commercial approach, emphasizing execution, accountability, and complete transparency with its supplier partners.

Edwards joins Johnson Brothers after serving as President of North America for illycaffè, a super-premium Italian coffee company, where he led the company’s largest focus market. During his tenure at illy, Edwards successfully drove significant growth, strengthened customer relationships, and elevated the company’s position as a leader in the premium coffee industry.

Before joining illycaffè, Edwards spent nearly two decades with Diageo, where he most recently served as the Commercial Leader for The Diageo Beer Company. In that role, he managed a network of approximately 400 distributors, driving the success of iconic brands such as Guinness and Smirnoff Ice. Prior to overseeing Diageo Beer, Edwards was the Senior Vice President and General Manager responsible for one of Diageo’s largest Spirits and Wine Divisions in the US. Jack’s time at Diageo also included key roles in Sales, Trade Marketing, and Finance.

“Jack’s extensive experience with premium brands and his proven industry experience make him uniquely qualified to lead Johnson Brothers into our next phase of growth,” said Mark Hubler, CEO, Johnson Brothers. “His passion for execution and accountability will further strengthen our commitment to delivering exceptional service and results for our supplier partners and customers.”

Edwards holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University in Chicago as well as an Accounting Degree from Bryant University. He started his career as a licensed CPA, working as an auditor for KPMG.

Johnson Brothers Names Brian Hodges as General Manager for Virginia

Johnson Brothers is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Hodges as General Manager for Johnson Brothers of Virginia, effective immediately.

Hodges brings over 12 years of hands-on leadership experience in the beverage alcohol industry, all with Johnson Brothers-Mutual Distributing of North Carolina. Since joining the company in 2012, Hodges has built a reputation for delivering results through strong execution, accountability, and commercial expertise. He has excelled in key roles, including Retail Sales Director and, most recently, Statewide On-Premise Sales Director, where he consistently drove performance, optimized processes, and upheld a high standard of operational excellence.

Hodges’ dedication to execution, accountability, and enhancing commercial capabilities makes him uniquely qualified to lead Johnson Brothers of Virginia into its next chapter of growth and success.

“We are thrilled to welcome Brian into this leadership role,” said Scott Cash, President, East Region. “His proven track record of driving growth and his commitment to team success will be invaluable as we continue to expand our operations in Virginia.”

Johnson Brothers Names Edward Nieves as General Manager for Nevada

Johnson Brothers is pleased to announce the appointment of Edward “Eddie” Nieves as General Manager for Johnson Brothers of Nevada, effective January 7, 2025.

Nieves brings extensive experience to the role, having most recently served as General Manager at Nevada Beverage Company. His leadership background also includes several key roles at Anheuser-Busch, including Nevada Retail Sales Director, Senior Key Account Manager, and Trade Marketing Manager.

In addition to his beverage alcohol expertise, Nieves has a strong foundation in hospitality, with seven years of experience culminating as Assistant Director of Beverage at Wynn Las Vegas.

“Eddie is a tremendous addition to our leadership team,” said AJ Atta, Regional President, West. “His proven ability to drive results, combined with his deep understanding of the Las Vegas market and its unique dynamics, will be instrumental in continuing the growth and success of Johnson Brothers of Nevada. We’re delighted to welcome him aboard.”