William Grant & Sons appoints chief financial officer

Scottish spirits firm William Grant & Sons has hired Helen Cowing as group chief financial officer.

Helen Cowing has joined William Grant & Sons as chief financial officer

In her new role, Cowing will be based at the group’s Strathclyde Business Park office in Scotland and will join William Grant’s supervisory and executive boards.

Cowing joins the Glenfiddich Scotch whisky and Hendrick’s gin owner from financial services and energy group Octopus, where she held the position of group chief financial officer (CFO).

With a career spanning more than 30 years, Cowing has held senior roles across commercial, IS and supply chain.

She has held the position of group CFO at global construction company ISG, vending services operator Selecta Group and clothing retailer Fat Face.

Cowing has also held senior finance roles at PepsiCo, Novartis, AP Moeller, Nestle and Kraft Jacobs Suchard.

Simon Hunt, chief executive at William Grant & Sons, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Helen Cowing to William Grant & Sons in this important role.

“Helen’s impressive leadership of global businesses, her international financial expertise and her commitment to values-based leadership in developing high performing teams, will make her a great addition to the executive board and the wider business.”

Cowing added: “I’m delighted to join William Grant & Sons, as a global business in Scotland, with a strong heritage that puts values at the heart of how it operates.

“William Grant & Sons has an impressive portfolio of brands and I value their long-term thinking.

“I look forward to contributing to profitable future growth for the business and working with a respected and accomplished team.”