Close Menu
News

The Spirits Business appoints new editor

Melita Kiely will become editor of The Spirits Business in the new year, taking over from Amy Hopkins.

Melita Kiely will assume the role of editor in January

Kiely, who has been deputy editor of The Spirits Business for two-and-a-half years, will lead the editorial team at the highly regarded international trade magazine and also become chair of The Global Spirits Masters blind-tasting competition.

Hopkins, who has worked at The Spirits Business since 2013 and acted as its editor since 2017, will leave the magazine to embark on a freelance career.

“After working with Melita for a number of years, I have no doubt that her talent and dedication will take The Spirits Business to new heights,” said Hopkins.

“She is brilliant journalist and editor ­– one of the best in the business – with a wealth of knowledge about the trade. As a colleague, Melita has been endlessly supportive and a fantastic collaborator, for which I’ll always be grateful.

“It’s been a privilege to edit this excellent magazine, and I have been incredibly lucky to work with such talented people – both in my own editorial team and those who work for our publisher, Union Press.

“I’d also like to say thank you to our news, web and social editor Nicola Carruthers and staff writer Owen Bellwood for their hard work, support and unwavering good humour over the years. I can’t wait to see how The Spirits Business evolves in the future.”

Kiely added: “I’m incredibly excited to take up the position of editor at The Spirits Business, a magazine I am extremely proud to be part of. We owe a great deal of thanks to Amy’s creative vision and high-quality journalism for evolving the magazine into the leading trade title it is today.

“Amy has been an incredible asset to The Spirits Business over her six-and-a-half years at the magazine, and she will be hugely missed by the team here.

“We all wish her the very best of luck in her freelance endeavours – luck she most certainly doesn’t need.”

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No