Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Accomplishments
References
Timeline
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Holly Browne

London

Summary

Venture strategist and senior business development expert with over 10 years in M&A sourcing. Led Distill Ventures's new business function as Global Head of Search, resulting in £300m investments across 25+ innovative brands and five successful exits. Proven track record in identifying, pitching, and closing multimillion-pound opportunities, securing C-suite stakeholder buy-in, and developing thought-leadership insights to influence commercial strategy.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Global Head of Search

Distill Ventures- Diageo's independent accelerator
London
12.2017 - 07.2025
  • Led DV's new business function across Europe, Asia, and Africa to shape Diageo's future premium brand portfolio and innovation pipeline.
  • Secured Investment Board approval (c-suite Diageo) for renewal of investment strategies alongside senior leaders.
  • Sourced and evaluated 1000+ opportunities, presenting 3-4 investment cases each quarter, achieving 90% approval rate for investment proposals.
  • Co-developed award-winning Pre-Accelerator programme, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver 300k of investment and increasing applicant numbers fourfold.
  • Managed £80k annual research budget to generate consumer and category insights, producing thought-leadership reports that shaped portfolio strategy.
  • Implemented HubSpot CRM, enhancing pipeline visibility and decision-making processes.
  • Formed three strategic partnerships to broaden ecosystem reach and improve founder support.
  • Represented Distill Ventures at industry events, enhancing stakeholder engagement.
  • Previous roles: Senior Manager, Manager, Executive

Business Analyst

IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution)
08.2016 - 11.2017
  • Delivered 20+ customised strategic insight projects to support growth strategies for leading grocery retailers and FMCGs. Clients included Amazon Fresh, Tesco and Ocado.
  • Created analytical and original insight reports and facilitated 5 workshops, addressing follow-up requests for deeper analysis.
  • Supported numerous IGD conferences, including 'Online & Digital Summit', through effective digital marketing and speaker briefings.
  • Facilitated networking opportunities on event days to enhance industry connections.

Buying Assistant

Tesco PLC
09.2015 - 02.2016
  • Developed account and partner management skills by overseeing supplier relationships for Tesco's home category.
  • Managed 10+ supplier accounts, enhancing negotiation and optimisation capabilities.
  • Conducted competitive market analysis in UK retail, delivering insights to senior decision-makers.
  • Assisted in procurement processes by analysing market trends and supplier performance.
  • Analysed sales data to predict future buying trends.

PR Assistant

New Look Retail Group
08.2015 - 09.2015
  • Gained public relations experience during summer internship at New Look.
  • Assisted with writing press releases to maximise coverage.
  • Engaged with media to expand reach and influence.
  • Co-ordinated press room visits to facilitate information dissemination.
  • Organised and promoted press events for heightened visibility.

Education

BA Hons - Geography

University of Nottingham
Nottingham
09.2012 - 07.2015

A-Levels - Geography, Psychology, Philosophy & Ethics

ROYAL MASONIC SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (RMS)
Rickmansworth

Skills

  • New business development
  • Strategic partnerships & client management
  • Insight-driven commercial strategy
  • Presentation & pitching to senior stakeholders
  • Event representation & networking
  • CRM & pipeline management (HubSpot)
  • Team leadership & programme creation

Affiliations

  • Travel (extensive travel to SE Asia, Australia, Central America). Food & Drink Culture, Music

Accomplishments

THE SPIRITS BUSINESS AWARDS

Young Achiever of the Year – Runner Up (2022)

Ethical Award for the Pre-Accelerator (2021)


Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET)

Level 2 Spirits Award - Distinction

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Global Head of Search

Distill Ventures- Diageo's independent accelerator
12.2017 - 07.2025

Business Analyst

IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution)
08.2016 - 11.2017

Buying Assistant

Tesco PLC
09.2015 - 02.2016

PR Assistant

New Look Retail Group
08.2015 - 09.2015

BA Hons - Geography

University of Nottingham
09.2012 - 07.2015

A-Levels - Geography, Psychology, Philosophy & Ethics

ROYAL MASONIC SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (RMS)

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