THE Scotch Whisky Association has again turned to the diplomatic corps to fill a senior post by appointing Sarah Dickson as its first director of global affairs.
Ms Dickson will leave her post as Her Majesty's ambassador to Guatemala and Honduras to lead the trade body's new London office, based near Westminster, after it opens in July.
The Cambridge graduate, who will lead the body's international and European Union business, will report to fellow former diplomat David Frost at the SWA.
Mr Frost, a former British ambassador to Denmark, who also served at the British embassy in Paris, succeeded Gavin Hewitt as the chief executive in January 2014.
Ms Dickson, a specialist in European and Latin American affairs, has held a number of roles in the diplomatic service in the UK and overseas, including in Spain and South America.
The organisation moved to appoint a global affairs director as part of a restructure, announced in January. That came as it announced the departures of international affairs director Campbell Evans and European affairs director Nick Soper, who left in November.
The SWA, which will move its Edinburgh head office to the Quartermile development summer, has also appointed a new head of external affairs.
Graeme Littlejohn, who will be based London, previously headed the office of former chief secretary to the Treasury and Scottish MP Danny Alexander, who lost his seat at the general election in May.
Mr Littlejohn will be responsible for building the SWA's relationships across Whitehall and Westminster.
In a further change at the SWA, trade policy manager Helena Mumdzjana will move from its Edinburgh office to London. Further trade and regulation specialists are also set to be appointed to the team.
Ms Dickson said: "I'm looking forward to joining the Scotch Whisky Association, an organisation recognised globally for its work in representing a highly successful Scottish and British industry.
"I will develop the association's sterling work in trade policy and build its presence in London with the help of a strong team."
Mr Frost said: "I'm delighted that Sarah and Graeme are joining the association. They bring a wealth of experience and will be real assets as we grow our presence in London and overseas."
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