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Whisky company toasts fifth-generation chairman

A fifth-generation member of the Grant-Gordon distillery dynasty has been appointed non-executive chairman of Scotland-based William Grant & Sons Ltd. Peter Gordon, who is the great great-grandson of founder William Grant, is taking over from Charles Gordon, who will fulfil the newly created role of life president.
 
Paying tribute to his uncle, Peter said: "Charles has led the company as chairman over the last five years with a leadership style full of remarkable energy, passion and humour. As a consequence, our brands have developed and prospered significantly.

"Having first become a director of the company in 1953, Charles has an unrivalled and invaluable depth of knowledge of the Scotch whisky industry and the world's spirits markets. As our life president, Charles will have the opportunity to continue contributing to the overall development of the company."

William Grant & Sons was founded in 1886 when William Grant built the Glenfiddich Distillery with his nine children. A year later, on Christmas day, the first Glenfiddich whiskey was produced. With help of his brother, John, and his son-in-law, Charles Gordon, William was able to export his product all over the world, and expand his company to include new brands.

Today, the company's whiskey products are sold in 180 countries with Glenfiddich being known as "the world's favourite single malt". The company is still fully-owned by William's direct descendants who are involved in the running of the businesses.

Related link:
Click here to read our 2005 interview with former family council chairman Bill Gordon.

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