Change of chairmanship at Famous Grouse owner Edrington

Veteran businessman Norman Murray is to retire from the chairmanship of whisky producer Edrington to be replaced by Crawford Gillies, it was announced yesterday.

Murray, who joined the Famous Grouse maker as a non-executive director in 2012 and has held the chair- manship since 2013, will step down at this year’s annual general meeting. Among Murray’s many roles he has been chairman of oil services company Petrofac and explorer Cairn Energy.

Gillies, who joined Edrington as a non-executive director earlier this year, is also a nonexecutive on the boards of SSE and Barclays, where he chairs the remuneration committee.

He has chaired a number of private and service sector organisations including Scottish Enterprise. Gillies also founded The Saltire Foundation, which helps develop entrepreneurial leadership in Scotland.

Murray said: “I am very pleased to announce that Crawford will take over the chairmanship of Edrington and know that his extensive international business experience will be invaluable to the company and I wish him all the very best.”

Edrington chief executive Ian Curle added: “My colleagues and I have very much enjoyed working with Norman.

“He has chaired our board with distinction and we will miss his wise counsel and his positive encouragement.” 0 Norman Murray has held the chairman’s role since 2013