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SWA in senior level shakeup
The Scotch Whisky Association is seeking to appoint a new global affairs director, while it has announced the departure of two senior figures.
The SWA is expected to open a London office in the middle of this year (Photo: Wiki)
The new global affairs director – who will head up the SWA’s new London office – will be responsible for all the Association’s international and EU business.
Meanwhile, international affairs director Campbell Evans will be leaving the SWA by mutual agreement later in 2015.
As part of the same board-level restructuring, Nick Soper, european affairs director, left the SWA on 17 November. It is unclear wether this was voluntary.
On the new job role, chief executive David Frost said, “I am excited to announce this further change in the SWA’s work. We believe that a permanent London presence will enhance our ability to engage effectively and build relationships both with the UK government and with other governments and bodies represented there.”
According to the SWA, the role will be to “eliminate barriers to the export of Scotch Whisky”, to “build and extend the SWA’s international influence and contacts”, and to “position the SWA as an institution with broader international credibility on the importance of free trade and open markets”.
On the departing directors, Frost said “Campbell has been a key part of the Association for many years. All of us at the Association wish him all the best in pursuing other opportunities and I wish to thank him for his long and distinguished service to the Scotch Whisky industry.
“I pay tribute to Nick’s sterling service to the Association over more than twenty years, and wish him the best for the future.”
SWA chief executive David Frost (Photo: SWA)
These changes come on the back of the Association’s announcement in December of its new chairman and vice chair, and of its new deputy chief executive.
The SWA’s new London office will focus upon international and EU business and on UK government affairs. It is expected to open in mid-2015, shortly after the UK general election. The SWA’s headquarters and most of its team will remain in Edinburgh.
The Association will also be looking in due course to recruit a small number of experienced international affairs and public affairs specialists to join the London office.