John Beard named new Whyte & Mackay boss

Spirits producer Whyte & Mackay has appointed former Bacardi executive John Beard as its new chief executive.

Beard joins the whisky and vodka business this week after 19 years at Bacardi and its associated companies.

He worked in a variety of sales, marketing and general management roles, including UK sales director, before taking up the post of regional director for Eastern Europe which included looking after the travel retail sector for the firm.

He subsequently returned to the UK where he spent the last three years as UK CEO of Bacardi Brown Forman.

Commenting on his new role, Beard said: "I have been really impressed with Whyte & Mackay's performance and its commitment to building not only strong brands, but strong international brands."

Beard replaces Ashwin Malik who is returning to India, with his family, after spending almost two years in Scotland helping to build the business after it was bought by Indian entrepreneur Vijay Mallya in 2007.

Whyte & Mackay produces and markets a range of whisky and vodka brands including Whyte & Mackay blended whisky, the Dalmore and Jura malts, Glayva and two vodka brands, Vladivar and Pinky.