Australian whisky maker Lark Distilling has appointed non-executive director Stuart Gregor as the group’s new CEO.
Gregor will take over from Satya Sharma, who is set to step down on 31 December.
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In a statement on the Australian stock exchange, the single malt whisky producer said Gregor, who has been a company director since last year, has an “intimate understanding and knowledge of the business”.
In 2013, Gregor co-founded Four Pillars Gin, which was acquired by the Kirin-owned Australian brewing group Lion in 2023.
Lark Distilling chairman Domenic Panaccio said: “Stuart combines deep category knowledge, proven entrepreneurial credentials, and global perspective with an unrivalled passion for Australian spirits. His leadership will accelerate Lark’s ambition to be recognised as a leader in new world whisky, while continuing to build on the exceptional legacy created under Satya’s stewardship.”
During his career, Gregor has also been president of the Australian Distillers Association.
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By GlobalDataCommenting on Sharma’s tenure, Panaccio said the company “delivered consistent and sustainable results, expanded into key international markets, strengthened our portfolio offering, fortified our balance sheet and established an operational platform designed to deliver sustainable long-term value”.
In Lark Distilling’s 2025 financial year, which ran to the end of June, the Tasmanian company behind Forty Spotted gin brand reported a 12% rise in net sales revenue to A$15.6m ($10.3m).
The growth was largely driven by direct-to-consumer sales, travel retail and exports.
Lark Distilling’s gross profit increased to A$10m, an uptick of A$0.6m.
Nonetheless, the transition to a distributor-led sales model resulted in a decrease in the gross profit percentage, which fell to 64%, down by approximately 3.5 percentage points.
At a statutory EBITDA level, Lark Distilling made a loss of A$5.9m. It generated a net loss of A$11.3m, up from one of A$4.6m a year earlier.
Gregor said: “The opportunity to lead Lark is rare and exciting in the Australian distilling landscape and is the only one that would have attracted me back into the industry following the successful sale of Four Pillars to Lion.”
