Liquor body seeks two brand chiefs

Highland Distillers Brands UK, the new marketing and distribution body, is to appoint two brand business development directors.

The directors will oversee whisky brands such as Famous Grouse and The MacCallum from the Highland Distillers stable, plus Remy brands including Remy Cointreau, Remy Martin and Piper-Heidsieck champagnes.

The creation of the posts comes after the Highland Distillers group took over responsibility for the Remy brands in the UK last year. As a result, Highland Distillers Brands UK has been formed as a separate division to manage both parties’ brands under managing director Paul Grimwood. It is in negotiation with other drinks companies to market and distribute their brands, though Grimwood refuses to give details.

The impact on advertising for Remy brands in particular, is unclear. The biggest brand, Remy Cointreau, is handled by Bartle Bogle Hegarty.

Grimwood says there are no immediate plans to review agencies, but he adds: “Having brought sales and marketing together, we’ll be looking to see where there will be benefits in putting things together.”