UK: MD retirement prompts Gordon & MacPhail shake-up

Gordon & MacPhail has reorganised its board of directors following the retirement of managing director Ian Urquhart.

The Scotch whisky company confirmed today (14 September) that Urquhart coincided his retirement with his 60th birthday at the end of last month. Urquhart will remain with the company in a non-executive director capacity on a part-time basis.

Urquhart will be replaced by his brothers, Michael and David, who have assumed the role of joint managing directors.

"On behalf of all the team at Gordon & MacPhail we thank Ian for his hard work and commitment to the company over many years," said Michael and David Urquhart. "We wish Ian all the very best in his retirement."

Coinciding with the switch, the company said that the four associate directors, Stephen Rankin, Neil Urquhart, Ewen Mackintosh and Derek Hancock, will assume additional responsibilities within the company.

Further supporting the transition, James Taylor has joined Gordon & MacPhail as buyer, Robert Munro has joined the company as quality controller and Ian Chapman has been promoted internally from marketing controller to marketing manager.

"We began our preparations for this change in structure more than 18 months ago with the appointment of four associate directors and investment in a comprehensive management training programme," the two brothers added. "We look forward to the challenges ahead and remain committed to providing consumers around the world with the highest quality products and excellent customer service."

Gordon & Macphail claims to be the World's leading malt whisky specialist, offering over 450 presentations of own-bottled single malts, aged from five to 60 years old.