Steven Sleigh has worked at Edrington for 18 years, most recently as area director for UK domestic and Benelux. He will now take the position as area director for global travel retail.

As well as its whisky brands, travel retail also forms a key part of Edrington's strategy for its recent acquisition, Brugal rum.

Sleigh said: "This is an exciting time for Edrington and we are finalising plans to expand our team to take advantage of the many opportunities in the travel retail category. We have an unrivalled portfolio of premium brands and I am looking forward to ensuring that they achieve their maximum potential in international duty free markets. Travel retail will become an even more important part of our future and we are well placed to achieve our growth aspirations."

Sleigh succeeds William Ovens, who is to leave Edrington after nine years. Ovens is to become sales and marketing director with Presentation Products, a supplier of premium packaging to the drinks industry and of composite gift packs to UK retailers, based in Arbroath, Scotland.