Barker has held previous commercial director positions at Birds Eye Foods, General Mills, Fosters Group’s Wine Estates and Southcorp Wines, both in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Barker said: “I am delighted to be joining William Grant & Sons UK - one of the leading premium spirits companies in the world – at such an exciting time in the business’s history.”

Rita Greenwood, managing director, William Grant & Sons UK and Ireland, said: “Neil’s expertise from both within our industry, and further afield, position him perfectly to bring new ideas and practices to our business.

“At William Grant & Sons UK we have committed to an ambitious growth strategy and I am confident that Neil will drive his team forward to achieve great things in 2017, and the future.”