FDBusiness.com

The Scotch Whisky Association is to recruit a new global affairs director, responsible for all the Association’s international and EU business. The new director is to be based permanently in London and will head up the Association’s new London office.

David Frost, chief executive of SWA, says: “I am excited to announce this further change in the SWA’s work. We believe that a permanent London presence will enhance our ability to engage effectively and build relationships both with the UK Government and with other governments and bodies represented there.”

The global affairs director will manage a team based in London and in Edinburgh. The role will be to eliminate barriers to the export of Scotch whisky, to build and extend the SWA’s international influence and contacts, and to position the SWA as an institution with broader international credibility on the importance of free trade and open markets. Further details may be found below.

David Frost, chief executive of SWA.

The Association has also announced the departure of two directors. Campbell Evans, international affairs director, will be leaving the SWA by mutual agreement later in 2015. As part of the same restructuring and changes of roles and responsibilities, Nick Soper, European affairs director, left the SWA on 17 November. These changes come on the back of the Association’s announcement in December of its new chairman and vice chair, and of its new deputy chief executive.

The SWA’s new London office will focus upon international and EU business and on UK government affairs. It is expected to open in mid-2015, shortly after the UK General Election. The SWA’s headquarters and most of its team will remain in Edinburgh.

The Association will also be looking in due course to recruit a small number of experienced international affairs and public affairs specialists to join the London office.