Whyte & Mackay has announced a new structure and leadership for its travel retail team. Mike Greggs has been appointed to the new position of Managing Director UK, Europe & Global Travel Retail. This follows a period during which Greggs helped to build the Whyte & Mackay UK and Europe business.
Travel Retail Director Richard Trimby will leave the company after seven years, during which he helped to treble the size of Whyte & Mackay’s travel retail business, as well as navigating the impact of the pandemic.
The company said its reorganisation was shaped “to create greater connection with strategic domestic markets, as the next step in the company’s mission to be a driving force in the whisky category.”
Richard Trimby: Led Whyte & Mackay Global Travel Retail through a tremendous growth phase for its single malts, led by The Dalmore
The new structure, it added, will allow Whyte & Mackay to continue “its rapid growth trajectory by creating greater synergies, with stronger connections between the domestic and travel retail teams”.
In related news, Clarisse Daniels has been promoted to the newly-created role of Regional Director Global Travel Retail – EMEI & Americas. Most recently, she oversaw the strategy and marketing for Whyte & Mackay’s travel retail team.
A successor for Daniels’ responsibilities as Head of Marketing GTR will be announced in due course, and that role will now report into Janice McIntosh, who has been promoted as Marketing Director (UK, Europe & Global Travel Retail).
In recognition that Asia has been the fastest growing region for the company, Micheline Wong’s position as Regional Director of Asia Travel Retail has been elevated, and she will continue to lead the regional team, reporting directly into Mike Greggs.
Wong will continue to bring travel retail customer partnership, commercial leadership and luxury marketing experience to the region, said the company. Within her team Richard Wan has been promoted to the role of Global Account Manager China & Taiwan Travel Retail.
In keeping with the drive to create synergy between the travel retail and key domestic market teams, Ashish Monga will leave Global Travel Retail to focus on the fast-growing Middle East and India domestic markets.
Snehanshu Verma will take over responsibility for India travel retail, along with his current role, and is appointed Business Manager Middle East & India Travel Retail.
Whyte & Mackay Chief Operating Officer (Brands & Markets) Nick Garland said: “This new structure will create a business which is more connected, both across our domestic and travel retail teams, by fostering stronger links with our valued partners in the local markets. It will underline and enhance our consumer and category-first approach and creates room for our team to grow in line with the business, which is currently doubling every five years.
Clarisse Daniels and Micheline Wong assume new, wider travel retail roles at the premium spirits company
“I congratulate Mike on his new appointment, and I believe he is perfectly placed to lead our team into this exciting next phase of growth and development. I would like to thank Richard for his excellent work over the past seven years and wish him all the best in the future.
“In Janice, Clarisse, Micheline and Snehanshu, Mike has a talented and knowledgeable team, and I am excited for the future of the company and our brands in this vibrant and exciting market.”
Mike Greggs commented: “I am delighted to assume responsibility for this fast growing and dynamic channel. Travel retail continues to be a top priority for Whyte & Mackay. Our strong performance and ambitious activations in recent years demonstrate our resolve for investing to win here.
“The Whyte and Mackay Travel Retail team have built true partnerships with our priority customers, and I look forward to contributing to take these to the next level. I believe through Whyte and Mackay’s consumer insight and category thinking we can accelerate our mutual growth in each region.
“Global travel retail uniquely creates the opportunity to engage with a diverse mix of consumers and introduce many new people to the single malt whisky category. It is here our industry can best build emotional connection through the many touchpoints with an upscale audience motivated to discover new brands and try new experiences.” ✈
