Stuart Gregor to become Lark Distilling CEO
Four Pillars co-founder Stuart Gregor will join Australian whisky producer Lark Distilling Co as its CEO next year.
Gregor will become CEO and managing director of Tasmania-based gin and whisky maker Lark on 1 January 2026, taking over the role from Sash Sharma.
Sharma, who joined Lark as CEO on 1 May 2023, will leave the business for a “leadership opportunity with a major global spirits industry player”.
Gregor co-founded Australian gin brand Four Pillars in 2013 alongside Cameron Mackenzie and Matt Jones. The business was sold to Australasian drinks company Lion (a division of Kirin) a decade later.
Gregor said: “The opportunity to lead Lark is rare and exciting in the Australian distilling landscape and is the only one that would have attracted me back into the industry following the successful sale of Four Pillars to Lion.”
Gregor joined Lark as a non-executive director in 2024 and brings more than 25 years of experience to the new role.
Lark’s chairman Domenic Panaccio said: “Stuart already has a deep understanding of Lark through his role on our board and has been intimately involved in the restage of our brand as we embark on our exciting next chapter.”
Panaccio believes the new appointment will “accelerate Lark’s ambition to be recognised as a leader in new world whisky”.
He thanked Sharma for helping the business deliver “consistent” results, expand into key markets and for “elevating the company to its position as Australia’s number one luxury single malt”.
Sharma added: “I am excited to see Lark accelerate under Stu’s leadership with the foundations now well and truly set for what is going to be an incredible next chapter.”
For the year ending 30 June 2025, Lark Distilling Co saw revenue rise by 12%, boosted by travel retail and online sales.
During the year, the company has been working on a ‘brand restage’ for Lark. It aims to launch a new range during the first quarter (July-September) of its next financial year in export markets. A domestic rollout will begin in the first half of 2026.
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