Scotch whisky distiller Edrington today announced the appointment of two new executive directors and a restructuring of the business.


Graham Hutcheon, previously distillation director at The Macallan distillery, succeeds Ian Curle as group operations director while Bill Farrar, who has been responsible for the growth of three of the group’s key brands – The Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park – is promoted to group sales and marketing director. Curle moves up to become deputy chief executive. Barrie Jackson, a main board director for the last nine years, takes up a new position as group strategy director and will concentrate on directing the group’s future strategy.


“As an independent company, we can afford to take a longer-term outlook and to invest in countries and products that have the potential to become important sources of future earnings. That sets us apart from other leading players in the Scotch whisky industry and is a strength we will continue to utilise to our maximum benefit,” said Curle as the new-look board met for the first time today.


Richard Hunter continues as group finance director while the board is completed by two non-executives, John Spence, director of policy co-ordination and risk, Lloyds TSB Group, and Kim Winser, chief executive of Pringle Scotland.