William Grant supremo quits over restructuring

William Grant & Sons’ group managing director Patrick Thomas has left the company following a board-level shake-up. As part of the restructure, the company decided to wipe out a layer of management and it is understood that Thomas disagreed with the company’s move.

He was the first non-family member to take over the role of group managing director at the family-run spirits company. Former managing director Bob Brannan will become group managing director, replacing Thomas for an interim period until a final appointment is made.

It is not known whether Thomas, who had been in the position for three years, has a job to go to. He joined the company in 1994 as a non-executive director from cosmetics company Lancaster Group, where he held the position of president and had responsibility for the global development and marketing of the business.

A spokesman for the distiller says: “We have decided to switch from a two-tier board structure to a single-tier board structure.”

The two-tier board comprised a supervisory board and an executive committee. The one-level management structure will include an executive board, which is responsible for the company.

One of the main shareholders, Charles Gordon, will take on the chairman’s role later this month.

William Grant & Sons manufactures the Glenfiddich whisky brand.