William Grant loses global marketing chief Sturgeon

William Grant & Sons global marketing director Steven Sturgeon is to leave the drinks company at the end of the month. It is not clear whether he has a job to go to.

Sturgeon, who is also a member of the company’s executive committee, is responsible for the marketing strategies of all the family-owned distiller’s brands including Grant’s, Glenfiddich and Hendrick’s Gin.  

William Grant chief executive Roland van Bommel will take on the global marketing director duties until a successor is found.

Sturgeon joined William Grant in 2005 from Diageo as global brand director for Glenfiddich single-malt whisky. He was promoted to global marketing director in 2006. He features in this week’s Marketing Week cover story on page 12.

He spent seven years at Diageo, including a spell as brand director for Guinness.

Previously, Sturgeon worked as the director of marketing strategy and new media for the National Magazine Company. He has also worked at Ogilvy & Mather where he held a senior account director role.

William Grant appointed Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw to handle the £2m global direct marketing account for Glenfiddich last April.

The appointment came a month after the company launched a £3.8m UK campaign to support a global packaging redesign for its blended Scotch whisky brand, Grant’s.

The activity was created by My Agency with media planning and buying handled by John Ayling & Associates and used the strapline “Try a different angle”.