Whyte & Mackay hires new chief

Scottish distiller Whyte & Mackay has completed its year-long search for a marketing director with the appointment of Dominic Brand, Allied Domecq’s international marketing director for Ballantine’s and Teacher’s.

Whyte & Mackay started its hunt for a marketing director after incumbent Vic Skelton was moved to head the European division (MW December 9 1994). The search was put on hold after the company changed its chairman and chief executive – Michael Lunn, who left in June, was replaced by Kenneth Hitchcock in July.

Brand previously worked for Allied Distillers, the whisky manufacturing division of Allied Domecq.

When Allied Domecq rejigged its structure, centralising marketing in its brand centres at Bristol and Los Angeles, Brand failed to secure the top job of brand director for Ballantine’s. The job went instead to ex-Beefeater marketing director Martin Riley.

Brand joins as Whyte & Mackay embarks on a series of new marketing initiatives for its brands, which include Whyte & Mackay Special Reserve, Vladivar vodka, Jim Beam bourbon, and a range of other whiskies. The company has started advertising on television.