Spirits giant Edrington appoints new managing director in Asia Pacific business

Spirits giant Edrington has appointed Francois Saurel as the company’s new regional managing director for its Asia business.

Edrington has appointed Francois Saurel as the company’s new regional managing director for its Asia business. (Photo: Edrington)

Saurel will join Edrington this month, replacing Igor Boyadjian, who was appointed managing director of its The Macallan whisky distillery earlier in the year.

Saurel joins Edrington after working for 15 years at cosmetics giant Coty, where he has been employed as general manager of the group’s businesses in north and south east Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong since October 2016.

After graduating from the École des hautes études commerciales de Paris (HEC Paris), he began his career with Procter & Gamble where he led local and global marketing teams focusing on luxury and beauty.

Boyadjian said Saurel’s “leadership skills, global luxury brands experience and his proven commercial track record, make him an excellent addition to an already talented team.

“He also brings with him strong competencies in working with JV and distribution partners and has led several important business transformation projects across a number of geographies including Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea.”

“Francois will not only contribute new perspectives and insights to the role – helping us refine our strategy as we take Edrington’s iconic portfolio of brands to new heights – but he fully embraces the culture, history and values that set Edrington apart.

“I look forward to working closely with him as he prepares to assume his new responsibilities and I wish him all the best in his new role.”

Saurel said the company is “set up for significant long term growth, thanks to its unrivalled portfolio of brands, great people and unique culture.

“Over the coming weeks and months, I look forward to accelerating the existing momentum and working with the team to deliver on our ambition to give more – to our people, our consumers, our shareholders and our communities – by building the world’s leading portfolio of exceptional super premium spirits.”

Scott McCroskie took over as CEO of Edrington in April this year from outgoing boss Ian Curle. He first joined the whisky industry in 1994 as a financial controller of bourbon brand Jim Beam. was appointed director of commercial finance at Edrington in 2009, working his way up to the MD of The Macallan in April 2015.