Jean-Etienne Gourgues, chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, has been appointed as chair of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) Council.

The role of chair is appointed every two years and leads the SWA Council of 16 member company representatives. Meeting four times per year, the Council provides support and advice on the SWA’s strategic priorities.

Chivas Brothers takes over from Diageo as chair of the Council, with Gourgues becoming the 23rd chair in the SWA’s history.

Commenting on the appointment, Mark Kent, chief executive of the SWA, said: “We are pleased to welcome Jean-Etienne as Council chair during a crucial time for the Scotch whisky industry.

“The sustainability of our sector — whether that’s working to meet net zero ambitions, ensuring the long-term market share of Scotch in global markets, or building skills in our current and upcoming workforce — is of huge importance for Scotch whisky producers of all sizes. Jean-Etienne’s guidance and focus in this key area will be of great value to our sector as we navigate the coming years, and the SWA and its Council look forward to working with him and the wider industry to drive those priorities.”

Gourgues added: “The Scotch Whisky Association has been instrumental in transforming Scotch into a global success. Now more than ever, it’s vital that we work together as an industry to meet common challenges, recognising that we can achieve more through collaboration than we can by standing alone. I look forward to working with my fellow Council members to secure a bright future for Scotch, taking forward all we’ve learned the past 200 years to pave a sustainable, responsible path ahead.”