Distell appoints new head of retail travel

African wine and spirit producer Distell has appointed a new head of global travel retail.

Luke Maga is to head up Distell’s global travel retail operations

It has appointed Luke Maga to the role, following Maga’s two years’ as general manager of its Asia Pacific duty-free operations. During his tenure, the company has seen Asia Pacific travel retail deliver “robust” growth despite a challenging environment across the travel retail sector.

Maga is being replace by Hong Kong-based Harry Kartasis, where he was the global account director for Moët Hennessy. He previously managed duty-free sales for Bacardi Martini, across 11 countries and various divisions, including airports, airlines, diplomatic services and ship chandlers.

The company said that despite the downturn in travel retail sales, Distell has seen “encouraging signs” in Brazil and Argentina, while commodity-based economies in Africa were also “picking up”.

The company’s global travel retail portfolio includes single malt Scotch Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, Deanston and Ledaig, alongside blends Scottish Leader and Black Bottle, Bisquit cognacs, South African liqueur, Amarula; and Nederburg, Fleur du Cap and Plaisir de Merle wines.