William Grant & Sons Appoints Steve Doyle Country Manager - Canada

NA SVP MARKETING JONATHAN YUSEN EXPANDS ROLE TO INCLUDE GENERAL MANAGER - CANADA

NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Family-owned IWSC Distiller of the Year William Grant & Sons today announced two exciting appointments with regard to its business in Canada. Steve Doyle has been named Country Manager – Canada; in this role Doyle will look after the company's award-winning portfolio of super premium spirits brands in the Canadian market as part of the Peter Mielzynski Agencies Ltd. team (PMA) beginning January 30. Doyle will report to Jonathan Yusen, who is expanding his role as Senior Vice President Marketing – North America to also include General Manager – Canada overseeing Commercial and Marketing responsibilities for this important market.

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Steve Doyle brings more than 25 years of sales and marketing expertise in the consumer packaged goods and beverage alcohol arenas to this role with William Grant & Sons. Most recently, Steve held the role of Director of Sales – Eastern Canada with Canada Dry Mott's where he led the fastest growing business stream. His background in the beverage alcohol industry includes roles with Sleeman Breweries Ltd., Diageo, Guinness Brewing Worldwide, and Molson Breweries.

"We are very proud to welcome Steve Doyle to the William Grant & Sons family. His track record for building brands in the Canadian market and his ability to build strong relationships makes him an ideal choice for this important role and an excellent fit with the PMA team. We are very excited for the continued success of our portfolio in Canada," shared Simon Hunt, Managing Director – North America, William Grant & Sons.

In his new role, Doyle will lead the PMA marketing team working on the William Grant & Sons portfolio. Doyle will report to Jonathan Yusen, Senior Vice President Marketing – North America, William Grant & Sons, who expands his role to now include General Manager – Canada. This expanded role will include Marketing and Commercial responsibilities in the Canadian market.

"Since joining WGS, Jonathan has developed a world-class Marketing team in the USA that has delivered truly stellar breakthrough programs. His work in Canada and Mexico has ensured consistency in the Marketing of and consumer engagement with the William Grant & Sons portfolio of spirits brands. I am delighted that Jonathan will continue the impressive Marketing achievements as the SVP Marketing for North America and, now, will help achieve our Commercial objectives, as General Manager-Canada," added Hunt.

In 2011, William Grant & Sons was crowned the Distiller of the Year by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition for the second year running. The company's unparalleled portfolio of spirits took home 56 awards – including three Trophies and 19 Golds. Leading the way was Glenfiddich, which received Gold awards for every one of its core brand variants from 12–40 Year Old. The Balvenie 30 picked up the coveted Trophy for Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 15 Years and Over, as well as Gold Best in Class. Icelandic brand, Reyka Vodka, triumphed in its category winning the Vodka Trophy and Milagro Reposado Tequila took the Trophy for Tequila.

ABOUT WILLIAM GRANT & SONS

William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the super premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world's leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world's most awarded single malt Glenfiddich^®, The Balvenie^® range of handcrafted single malts and the world's largest family-owned blended Scotch Grant's^® as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick's^® Gin, Sailor Jerry^® Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey and Milagro^® Tequila.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Milagro Tequila, Stolichnaya Vodka, Grant's, Hudson Whiskey, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Lillet, Licor 43, Art In The Age, The Knot and BOLS cordials. The company has offices in New York City (sales and marketing) and Edison, NJ (bottling and warehouse facilities). For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.

ABOUT PMA CANADA

Peter Mielzynski Agencies Ltd., operating as PMA Canada is a national agency which is considered among the premier distributors of the world's top quality spirits and wine brands. PMA plans and executes various, intelligent marketing strategies destined to promote and sell brands such as Grant's Whisky, Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch, Gibson's Finest Canadian Whisky. Since its establishment in 1979, PMA has been a leader in its industry and has demonstrated the capabilities necessary to not only sell and distribute products, but to also create and support brands.

SOURCE William Grant & Sons

CONTACT: James Curich, William Grant & Sons, [phone], [email protected]; or Alex Osorio, Maloney & Fox, [phone], [email protected]

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