The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
DISTILLERS
The managing director of one of Scotland’s leading whiskies is to take over as chief executive at its parent, Edrington Group, it was announced yesterday.
Edrington said Scott McCroskie, MD at The Macallan, produced at Craigellachie on Speyside, would take over as boss of the whole group after its current CEO, Ian Curle, retires in March.
Mr McCroskie, 51, has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, holding financial and commercial roles with Scottish and Newcastle, Jim Beam Brands, Whyte a nd Mackay, and Maxxium UK –the spirits marketing and distribution business jointly owned by Edrington and Beam Global.
He joined Edrington in 2009 and was appointed commercial director in 2011. In 2015, he became managing director of The Macallan, Edrington’s leading brand and one of the world’s top-selling single malt whiskies.
In addition to The Macallan, Scott leads Edrington’s businesses in the Americas, Asia Pacific and global travel retail.
Mr Curle has been the boss at Glasgow-based Edrington, whose brands also include UK blended favourite The Famous Grouse, for nearly 15 years.
He joined the business in 1986 through Edrington subsidiary Lang Brothers, becoming group operations director in 1997 and succeeding Sir Ian Good as chief executive in 2004.
Chairman of the North British Distillery since 2002, Mr Curle is also a former chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association and an advisor to the UK Board of Trade. During his time at the helm of Edrington the company has invested and developed a worldwide sales and distribution network of wholly-owned and joint venture companies in Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Dominican Republic.
Earlier this year, Mr Curle oversaw the opening of a modern new distillery and visitor centre for The Macallan after a £140 million investment. His stewardship of Edrington has transformed the business from a successful Scotch whisky producer employing 900 people into a leading premium spirits brand-building company with 3,000 employees.
Chairman Crawford Gillies said: “Ian exemplifies the Edrington ethos of giving more and his vision has transformed Edrington, positioning the company well for the great opportunities that lie ahead.
“We wish him a happy retirement.”
On the appointment of Mr McCroskie, who will become chief executive on April 1, Mr Gillies said: “He is the right leader to build on Ian’s hugely successful tenure and help write the next chapter of Edrington’s history.” very low this week as investors digested the news and fretted over the fallout.
Ted Baker has denied that hugging was “insisted upon”.
The announcement came alongside results which showed a 0.2% decline in sales in the 16 weeks to December 1, driven by falling revenue in Ted Baker’s wholesale division.
It also blamed unseasonal weather across the UK, Europe and the east coast of America, as well as challenges in the retail market.
Wholesale sales for the period decreased by 6.5% while retail sales, including online, rose by 2.3%.
Store sales for the last eight weeks of the period rose 4% as the weather became more typical for the season, a Ted Baker spokesman added.
In October, the retailer revealed a hit from collapsed department store chain House of Fraser as it posted lower half-year profits.
“Sit on his knee and let him massage their ears”