Candice Brown

Candice Brown, Esq., GPHR, SPHR, SHRM-SCP has over two decades of diverse work experience. Candice started their career in 1999 as a Summer Associate at Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP, and later served as a Summer Law Clerk at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. In 2000, they returned to Womble Carlyle as a Summer Associate. Candice then joined the law firm Womble, Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC as an Associate Attorney, specializing in workers' compensation and employment litigation. During their time there, they also established the firm's first Diversity & Inclusion Practice Group.

In 2003, Candice took on a role as an Adjunct Professor at Winston-Salem State University, where they taught until 2011. Candice also briefly served as an Adjunct Professor at Wake Forest University Babcock Graduate School of Management in 2008.

In 2008, Candice transitioned to the corporate sector, joining Reynolds American Inc. Initially, they held the position of Director, Employment Law Partner, advising and counseling business unit leadership on various legal, HR, and business matters. Candice was quickly promoted to the role of Senior Director, HR Strategic Partner, where they advised functional leadership on strategic workforce planning and development initiatives and played a key role in establishing diversity planning initiatives for the organization.

In 2015, Candice was appointed as Vice President, Workplace Practices, overseeing employment law and employee relations for Reynolds American Inc. and its operating companies. Candice led a team of employment lawyers and compliance professionals, managing risk, and ensuring legal compliance.

In 2017, following the acquisition of Reynolds American Inc. by British American Tobacco (BAT), Candice became the Vice President of Talent & Organizational Effectiveness. Candice led a large team responsible for talent acquisition, learning & development, employee engagement, talent management, and organizational design strategies.

In 2020, Candice took on additional responsibilities as the Vice President, HR Business Partner-Corporate Functions & Research & Development. Candice rebuilt the Corporate/SR&D Business Partnering Team, implementing new ways of working and leveraging internal and external talent.

In their most recent role at Reynolds American Inc., Candice serves as the Vice President, HR Business Partner- Marketing. Candice leads a team implementing Marketing's talent agenda and addressing leadership gaps through employee development, retention, and line manager excellence.

Throughout their career, Candice has demonstrated a strong understanding of legal and HR matters, with a focus on driving diversity and inclusion initiatives. Candice possesses several certifications, including Esq., GPHR, SPHR, and SHRM-SCP.

Candice Brown, Esq., GPHR, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, obtained from 2011 to 2013. Candice also has a Juris Doctorate degree in Law from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earned from 1998 to 2001, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in History from the same university, earned from 1994 to 1997. Additionally, they have obtained various certifications, including Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and SHRM - Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Candice is also admitted to practice law in the U.S. Courts of the Fourth Circuit and The Supreme Court of the United States, and holds a license to practice law in the North Carolina State Bar.