Bladnoch Distillery expands leadership team

Bladnoch Distillery has announced the appointment of a new leadership team to accelerate the brand’s global growth. Owner David Prior has assembled a team led by Glen Gribbon as CEO, marking a pivotal moment in Bladnoch’s history as Prior transitions away from day-to-day operations.

Gribbon has years of experience in the whisky industry, and reunites with Dr. Nick Savage, with whom he worked at The Macallan with during Savage’s tenure as master distiller.

The transition also signals a change to Bladnoch’s commercial and marketing capabilities with the addition of three industry veterans. David Pattison, previously managing director, Edrington Taiwan, will also be supporting Bladnoch in the key APAC region. Pattison joins Jonathan Owen, who is taking the role of commercial director for EMEA and Americas, as well as Allison Renfrew who joins as Bladnoch’s marketing manager.

Commenting on the transition, Prior said: "Having built a strong inventory since acquiring the business, we are now in a position to accelerate the growth of Bladnoch Single Malt. Nick has created an exceptional range of Bladnoch products, combing two cask styles for each product to create an incredible range of tastes. To drive growth, we wanted to recruit the best marketing and commercial capabilities we could find and The Macallan seemed like a great place to start! Glen's experience with fast growth premium brands will make him a great CEO, but just as importantly as his experience, I know he is aligned with the values of the Bladnoch business."

Gibbons added: "It’s a privilege to work alongside Dr. Nick Savage again. I think we both see in this brand some of the same magic that sat behind the success of The Macallan, in particular a commitment to exceptional casks. What David has achieved since buying the distillery is incredible – the definition of brave – and it gives the new team an excellent foundation to build on. There is a powerful brand and whisky story to tell, and our job is now to effectively tell this story to premium whisky drinkers worldwide."

12 September 2023 - Bradley Weir