Proof 8 names new COO
Distillery and warehouse management platform Proof 8 has appointed Stuart Maxwell, former head of product, as its new chief operating officer (COO).
Maxwell’s appointment is said to reflect Proof 8’s accelerated growth in the UK, Ireland and the US markets as it continues to fulfil its mission of digitising and streamlining operations for modern distilleries and bonded warehouses.
Before joining Proof 8 10 months ago, Maxwell was maturation leader at William Grant & Sons.
As head of product at Proof 8, he helped to secure new clients for the company, including Dornoch Distillery, Raer Spirits, Craigton, and Wicked Dolphin.
Proof 8 said it had noticed increased demand for its customer-centric system, which offers production accuracy, customisable dashboards, real-time cask tracking, and blockchain-backed digital ownership records, called digital deeds.
Maxwell is said to be well-equipped to lead the company into its next chapter as it scales to meet the growing demand for ‘transparent, customer-first solutions’ in the spirits sector.
Maxwell commented: “This is a pivotal time for both Proof 8 and the wider industry. Producers and warehouse-keepers are under severe pressure to do more with less. They’re looking to scale without losing control of operations, and to prove cask ownership, quality and compliance with zero room for error.
“Proof 8 was built to solve exactly these kinds of challenges and, from what I’ve seen in the past 10 months, does this better than anyone.
“I’m excited to take on this new role and embed our system further in the spirits industry. To work with more and more distilleries and warehouses that are actively looking for smarter ways to operate, run tighter and raise the bar on transparency with innovations like our digital deeds.”
Proof 8 helps distilleries and warehouses manage everything from raw ingredients, fermentation and maturation to automated duty reporting and cask-management transparency. Its tools, such as its recipe builder, smart scheduling, and real-time liquid summaries, allow producers to focus on quality and growth.
Nim Siriwardana, co-founder of Proof 8, said: “Stuart has been central to building the platform that’s now transforming distillery and warehouse operations across the UK, Ireland and the US.
“As COO, he’ll ensure we continue to stay close to our customers, challenge outdated systems and raise the standard for digital transparency in the spirits industry.”
Proof 8 hopes to become the standard for digital operations in the spirits industry, with customers ranging from craft spirit startups to family-owned heritage brands, including whisky and rum.
Earlier this year, the Irish whiskey maturing facility Foundry Vault and the Irish distillery Ahascragh adopted Proof 8’s digital management system to enhance transparency and traceability.
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