Distil PLC

Directorate change

Distil plc (AIM:DIS), owner of premium drinks brands RedLeg Spiced Rum, Blackwoods Gin and Vodka, TRØVE Botanical Vodka, Blavod Black Vodka and Diva Vodka, announces that Marketing and Operations Director, Kate O'Connell, has decided to step down from the Board, together with a number of other management changes.

Kate O'Connell

Kate  has decided to step down from the Board with effect from 14 October 2022 in order to dedicate more time to her young family. She joined the business in 2011 as Marketing Manager, before being promoted to Marketing and Operations Director in 2017. Following maternity leave Kate successfully returned on a reduced working week and was appointed to the Distil PLC board in January 2021.

Following Kate's departure, she will continue to support the business on an ongoing consultancy basis.

Commenting on Kate's departure, Don Goulding, Executive Chairman, said:

"Kate has been a longstanding employee of Distil and played an important role in the daily running of the Company. She has impacted all areas of our business from the development and launch of products, to helping us navigate the tricky waters of Brexit transitions and the Covid-19 pandemic. We are grateful to her for her dedicated service over the last 11 years.

Kate will be missed within the business day-to-day, however we are delighted that she will continue to offer support on an ongoing consultancy basis."

Strengthening the management team

In light of Kate's departure, Distil has promoted Sarah Kingsbury to Marketing Director effective from 1 October 2022. Sarah has over 13 years' experience in the drinks industry ranging from bartending, drinks journalism and PR. She worked across both global and challenger brands on a range of PR, marketing campaigns and events before joining the Distil team as Marketing Manager in March 2020. Sarah will be responsible for all aspects of company and brand marketing.

Distil has also recruited Adebola Adebo as Head of Finance and Operations effective from 1 December 2022. Adebola has a BA in Applied accounting, Accounting and Finance and an ACCA, as well as a MA in Management from Westminster Business School. Adebola joins Distil from her position of Group Finance Controller at The Whisky Exchange (part of the Pernod Ricard Group), where she has been for three years.

As part of these changes, Sarah, Adebola and Commercial Director, Alex Baker, will join the Distil Company Limited board.

Don Goulding, Executive Chairman, said: "I'm delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah and Adebola to their new positions. Sarah's promotion is well deserved, having demonstrated a strong performance during her time with the company. We're also excited to welcome Adebola to the team, who brings a wealth of experience across finance and operations. Together with Alex they will form a strong management team to take the company forward through the current business remodel and beyond." 

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About Distil

Distil Plc is quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. It owns drinks brands in a number of sectors of the alcoholic drinks market. These include premium spiced rum, vodka, gin, vodka vanilla cream liqueur and are called RedLeg Spiced Rum. Blackwoods Vintage Gin, Blackwoods Vodka, TRØVE Botanical Vodkas, Blavod Original Black Vodka and Diva Vodka.

This announcement contains inside information as stipulated under the UK version of the Market Abuse Regulation no 596/2014 which is part of English law by virtue of the European (withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended.  On publication of this announcement via a regulatory information service, this information is considered to be in the public domain.