Mark Hunter to leave Artisanal Spirits Company
The chair of Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC), Mark Hunter, will step back from the business due to health reasons.
As a result, Hunter will not stand for re-election at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) on 19 May.
Hunter will continue as chair until that date, when deputy chair Paul Skipworth will then take over on an interim basis until a permanent successor is appointed.
Hunter was named chair in April 2021, having joined from brewing giant Molson Coors as president and CEO.
He had assumed the role from Skipworth at the time, who shifted to deputy chair.
In addition to Hunter’s departure, ASC director Gavin Hewitt will retire at the AGM. Hewitt has served as the Edinburgh-based company’s director for more than 11 years.
ASC’s portfolio includes the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), US bottler Single Cask Nation (which it acquired in 2024) and Scotch whisky brand JG Thomson.
In its full-year financial report for 2025, Artisanal Spirits Company saw revenue drop by double digits, primarily because of disruption caused by the 43-day-long government showdown in the US.
The company’s revenue for the year was £19.9 million (US$26.3m), in contrast to £23.6m (US$31.8m) in 2024.
ASC CEO Andrew Dane believes ultra-premium whisky in the US will bring “significant opportunities” for growth.
“If you look at the US ultra-premium whisky space, we represent 0.4% market share. So the opportunity to grow in the whisky space over the next three to five years is substantial,” he told The Spirits Business following the publication of ASC’s 2025 full-year results at the end of March.
Last July, ASC created a luxury private cask programme called Artisan Casks.
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