Rémy appoints CEO of new whisky arm

Rémy Cointreau has named Bruichladdich CEO Simon Coughlin as the newly appointed head of its whisky business unit, following its acquisition of French single malt producer Domaine des Hautes Glaces and the US whiskey producer Westland Distillers.

Simon Coughlin, the new CEO of Rémy Cointreau’s whisky business

Coughlin’s appointment follows the company’s acquisition of the Seattle-based Westland Distillery, furthering its reach within the growing American single malt whiskey category, earlier this month.

Based in Seattle, Westland ages its American whiskeys in oak, with the Pacific Northwest providing a humid environment for the natural maturation of their signature single malt.

That acquisition was announced the day after the completion of its purchase of Frances Domaines des Glaces, which operates at an altitude of 900m in the Trièves mountains in the French Alps and produced single malt whiskies.

These follow the company’s acquisition of the Bruichladdich distillery in Scotland in 2012, which produces Islay Scotch whiskies and a gin.

With three whisky brands under its belt, the company today announced that Simon Coughlin, CEO of the Bruichladdich Distillery Company, would be taking over the management of this part of its business.

He will be tasked with helping the newly acquired brands reach their full potential, drawing upon his “avant-garde vision of the world of whisky”, as described by Rémy Cointreau.

Douglas Taylor, currently global brand director at Bruichladdich, will replace Coughlin as CEO of The Bruichladdich Distillery Company.

Frédéric Revol will continue to fulfil his role as CEO of the Domaine des Hautes Glaces, while Mark Breene, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Rémy Cointreau Americas, has been appointed CEO of Westland Distillery.

Rémy Cointreau’s other brands include Rémy Martin and Louis XIII Cognacs, Cointreau liqueur, and Mount Gay rum.