“I am encouraged by the restlessness and ambition that I have found across the company, and the conviction that the best years lie ahead.”
In my first year as Chairman of Edrington I would like to echo my predecessor, Norman Murray, with his observation that Edrington is truly characterised by Great People, Leading Brands, Giving More.
I would also like to pay tribute to Norman for his leadership and service to the company. Like him, I have now met many of the company’s employees and have been struck by the consistency of Edrington’s ethos and approach across its many global locations. In my experience this is one of the essential attributes of a successful global company.
The roots of this consistency lie in a company that has strong values and a clear sense of purpose. Edrington’s values can be traced back to the ethos of the founding Robertson family. In the modern era they have become even more powerful and a true differentiator. Edrington people are encouraged to inspire, collaborate, engage, deliver, and be open to change.
Those behaviours have a bearing both on the performance of Edrington’s leading brands and its distinctive approach to Giving More.
The performance of the company’s brands is covered in detail further in this report and it is a story of growth across the portfolio. While I am encouraged by the company’s success, I am even more encouraged by the restlessness and ambition that I have found across the company, and the conviction that the best years lie ahead.
Nothing exemplifies this ambition more than the recently opened Macallan distillery and visitor centre. The first distillery on Speyside to be designed by an international architect, it has already claimed many accolades for its quality, style, and ambition. I would like to pay tribute to those who advocated, pioneered, and constructed this amazing asset.
The Board of Directors is also evolving. In May we welcomed Stefanie Fitzgerald as a non-executive director. Stefanie’s experiences in luxury brand and digital marketing during her career in international fragrances will be very valuable to Edrington.
After 11 years Callum Barton is stepping down from his role as non-executive director. I would like to thank Callum for his wise counsel and support for Edrington during a period in which it has become a truly international brands company.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all Edrington employees for their enormous contribution in the last year and I look forward to meeting many more of them in the year ahead.