Edrington CEO Ian Curle is stepping down

Ian Curle, the chief executive of spirits giant Edrington, is retiring after more than 30 years of service at the company.

Ian Curle joined Edrington in 1986.

Scott McCroskie, who is currently a member of the Edrington board and managing director of The Macallan, will replace Curle after he steps down in March 2019.

Curle joined Edrington in 1986 through one of its subsidiaries, Lang Brothers, and succeeded Sir Ian Good as CEO in 2004.

“Ian has led Edrington to become one of the world’s leading international premium spirit companies,” Crawford Giles, Edrington’s chairman, said.

“I want to thank him for his 32 years of outstanding service, and particularly the 15 years in which he has been a wise and inspiring chief executive.

“Ian exemplifies the Edrington ethos of ‘giving more’ and his vision has transformed Edrington, positioning the company well for the great opportunities that lie ahead. We wish him a very happy retirement, together with his wife and family.”

Edrington, which owns Scotch brands including The Macallan, Highland Park, The Glenrothes and The Famous Grouse, is in the process of handing over its Cutty Sark Scotch label to French spirits group La Martiniquaise, following its sale last month.

McCroskie will take up the role of CEO from 1 April. He first joined the whisky industry in 1994 as a financial controller of bourbon brand Jim Beam. was appointed director of commercial finance at Edrington in 2009, working his way up to the MD of The Macallan in April 2015.

McCroskie oversaw the construction of the brand’s new £140 million distillery and visitor centre at its Easter Elchies estate, which opened to the public earlier this year.

“Edrington’s best days lie ahead, and through Scott’s leadership it will continue to be an ambitious, dynamic business,” Curle said, “and a cornerstone of the Scotch whisky industry that maintains and nurtures the ethos of giving more that has underpinned the company for 157 years.”

“It has been a privilege working with Ian over the past 10 years. He has led Edrington to great success, and leaves an amazing legacy, not least with the new Macallan distillery. I am delighted to take on the CEO role from Ian, and fully intend to work with the team at Edrington to build on the strong position we have achieved under his leadership.”