Mr Hagh has left the company less than two years after taking on the role on 1 January 2024. His exit was confirmed in a “termination of appointment” notice filed at Companies House last Friday, with no official explanation provided for the departure.

The move comes just a month after Mr Hagh gave a bullish interview to a trade publication, outlining his ambitions for the family-owned business. “We really believe that single malts are in for a renaissance and we want to be the lighthouse of that movement with our brands,” he said at the time.

Mr Hagh, who succeeded Glenn Gordon, joined the Glenfiddich owner from Heineken, where he had worked for ten years. His prior experience also included marketing roles at L’Oréal and Lego.

As news of Mr Hagh’s exit emerged, the company announced on 4 November 2025 the appointment of Grant McKenzie as its new chief network distribution officer and executive board member, effective 13 November.

In this role, Mr McKenzie will lead the company’s Owned Distribution Companies Business Unit, focusing on driving growth and innovation. He brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in blue-chip FMCG firms, including Unilever, L’Oréal, and Nestlé.

Most recently, Mr McKenzie led a CHF1.2 billion (c. £1.14bn) Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages business across eight European markets, managing iconic brands such as Perrier, S. Pellegrino, and Acqua Panna.

These leadership changes follow a challenging financial year for the distiller. In July, William Grant & Sons reported that for the year ending 31 December 2024, pre-tax profit had fallen by 30% to £388m, with turnover declining 6.5% to £1.8bn, figures the company stated were in line with market trends.