Pierre Pringuet new chairman of Scotch Whisky Association

Frenchman Pierre Pringuet, chief executive and vice-chairman of Chivas Brothers’ owners Pernod Ricard, has been named as the new chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association.

Mr Pringuet succeeds Ian Curle, Edrington chief executive, who was chairman of the trade body for three years.

Mr Curle will remain on the SWA governing council.

Peter Gordon, director at William Grant & Sons, replaces Mr Pringuet as vice-chairman of the SWA.

In other senior appointments Ivan Menezes, chief executive of Diageo, the largest producer of Scotch whisky, and Richard Burn, global policy and public affairs director of Diageo, join the SWA council.

The SWA also announced that Julie Hesketh-Laird has been appointed as its new deputy chief executive.

The association also announced it intends to sell its Atholl Crescent office and move to modern premises in Edinburgh next year, and to open a small permanent office in London to strengthen its impact in the UK capital.