PHIL Parnell, the Drambuie executive credited with turning around the family-owned whisky liqueur company, is to step back to a part-time role as non-executive chairman.
Mr Parnell became executive chairman in January after five years as chief executive following the retirement of non-executive chairman Richard Stone.
Many of his duties were passed to colleague Michael Kennedy, who took on the newly created role of managing director.
The handover will continue over the coming year and Mr Parnell, former chief executive of Dunlop Slazenger, will gradually cut back his hours.
In January 2012, Mr Parnell will become non-executive chairman and Michael Kennedy will step up to chief executive.
Mr Parnell has overseen a drive to sell Drambuie to younger customers, in part by promoting it as an ingredient in long drinks.
Mr Kennedy joined Drambuie, which is privately owned by the MacKinnon family, in 2002 as regional director for southern Europe. Since then he has added Latin American and global travel retail to his portfolio.
Mr Parnell said: “Michael has played a significant role in the revival of Drambuie’s fortunes in the past six years and is ideally placed to take the business forward over the next phase of its development.”
The Broxburn, West Lothian firm has also announced that it has appointed former ICI chief executive Brendan O’Neill as a non-executive, to replace Mr Stone as an independent director.
The former United Distillers and Guinness executive is a Confederation of British Industry board member. He will have responsibility for Drambuie’s audit and remuneration committees.
The company has also appointed Jonathan Brown, who has performed sales and communications duties for the company, to its board.
Mr Parnell said: “In Jonathan we have a terrific brand ambassador who is passionate about Drambuie and who ably represents the brand at home and abroad.”
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