September 17, 2025: Some recent leadership changes and other news
New CEOs at Gordon & MacPhail and Lark Distilling Co, new non-exec director at DIAGEO, Anora Group to cut jobs, how Moutai is investing in the Australian market, Calvados and more...
The Spirits Post is an international press review about the spirits industry brought to you by , an Italian spirits journalist and judge. If this newsletter was forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe here to receive it directly in your inbox:
Hello everyone!
Here is a selection of the most significant news I've found for you today. I hope you find it interesting. Let’s start with some recent changes in top leadership positions.
Gordon & MacPhail appoints new CEO
The Elgin-based whisky company Gordon & MacPhail has named Mark Geary as its new Chief Executive. Geary recently served as Interim Chief Executive and had previously worked at Edrington.
The new CEO will focus on driving strategic brand growth internationally and strengthening the company’s commercial and marketing capabilities across its portfolio, which includes the group’s distilleries, The Cairn and Benromach.
You can read Gordon & MacPhail’s official press release on their website here:
Lark Distilling Co names new CEO
The Australian company Lark Distilling Co has named Stuart Gregor as its next CEO. Gregor co-founded the Four Pillars Gin brand in 2013 and the PR agency Liquid Ideas. He also previously served as president of the Australian Distillers Association.
Article by Henry Mathieu on Global Drinks Intel:
Diageo appoints new non-executive director
The global firm Diageo has appointed John Rishton as a non-executive director, effective 1 November 2025. Rishton has over 40 years of business experience in a variety of roles across different companies and industries, including Serco Group PLC—until December 31—Rolls Royce Group plc, Royal Ahold NV, British Airways, and Ford Motor Company in the UK, Spain, and Portugal.
You can find the official press release on the group’s website here:
Anora to cut up to 80 jobs this year
As part of an ongoing restructuring process, the Nordic wine and spirits group Anora is set to cut 70 to 80 jobs this year.
Just Drinks is reporting the news (no author mentioned):
Moutai hosts Australia's biggest cocktail competition
Historic Chinese baijiu producer Moutai is hosting what is said to be the largest cocktail competition to date in Australia. The event is called “Enter the Dragon Cocktail Competition,” and the winner will take home $10,000 and the title of Moutai Master. That’s quite a significant investment on this market for this famous Chinese brand.
News by Cody Profaca on Drinkstrade here:
Moutai is hosting Australia’s biggest cocktail comp. Here’s what you should know
In case you’d like to refresh your memory about baijiu, here is the article I wrote for Linkiesta Gastronomika, translated into English:
Something to read
I found a long report on Calvados by Jürgen Deibel in the Spirituosen Journal. Calvados is a fascinating spirit, so I thought it might be interesting for you to read about it (perhaps again). You can find the article here (and ask Google to translate it for you):
Calvados: Eine Reise zu einer (fast) vergessenen Spirituose – und Pommeau
That’s all for today.
Just one last piece of information for you:
I’ll be working hard over the next few weeks and months until December. I have a lot to write about for the publications I work with. The topics will include distribution trends in Italy, Italian brandy, a reportage about my recent trip to the Speyside and much more.
I will attend Whisky Live Paris (tell me if you will be there!), and I also have a trip to Cognac region planned for October.
Please, feel free to share your ideas and thoughts about any of these topics. Every point of view helps me better understand all the different situations and aspects of the spirits world.
Cheers ;)