Meet the Scotch Whisky Association Teams
The SWA has a team of 45 staff specialising in five different sectors - Industry, International, Legal, Strategy & Communication and Corporate Services - all working to drive the best possible business environment for Scotch Whisky producers in order to ensure Scotch Whisky retains its place as the world's leading high-quality spirit.
Mark Kent, Chief Executive
Mark Kent CMG joined the Scotch Whisky Association as Chief Executive in January 2022.
Prior to this Mark spent 34 years in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (formerly Foreign and Commonwealth Office). He was latterly British Ambassador to the Argentine Republic (2016-2021), Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand (2012-2016) and Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (2007-2010). He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to British foreign policy.
Mark holds voluntary positions as Chair of the Vietnam UK network and trustee of Project Trust, an international volunteering charity for young people.
Industry Sustainability
Our Industry Sustainability team focuses on achieving a regulatory framework at home which keeps our industry sustainable and competitive.
Our work spans from the development of cereal varieties to the customs and excise controls required to export bottles around the world. This covers a wide range of areas, such as securing a fairer and more efficient system of taxation and the delivery of our ambitious Sustainability Strategy.
The team also works on ensuring the sector is an attractive place to work, by considering skills, diversity and inclusivity, and continuous improvement of occupational health & safety standards.
Ruth Piggin, Industry Sustainability Director
Ruth Piggin joined the SWA team in November 2021 as Industry Sustainability Director.
Prior to joining the SWA Ruth has worked in different regulatory and public affairs roles including agriculture, water and public health. Ruth’s experience has been gained through a career within both national trade associations and a multinational corporation.
Ruth has a Masters in Biotechnology, Law and Ethics from the University of Sheffield.
Strategy & Communications
Our Strategy & Communications team leads on political engagement, particularly with the Scottish and UK governments, and our external communications.
The team is also home to our economic analysis work, and to our membership services and internal communications.
Interested in learning more about our political engagement work?
Graeme Littlejohn joined the SWA in 2015 and was appointed Director in March 2019.
He has over 15 years of experience across a range of political strategy, communications and leadership roles. Prior to joining the SWA, he served as Head of Office to the Chief Secretary of the Treasury at HM Treasury and has previously held posts in the Scottish Parliament, European Parliament and at Westminster.
Graeme has a Masters in International Relations from the University of St Andrews and spent 2013 working in rural Uganda on development projects as a Trustee of an education charity.
Graeme Littlejohn, Director of Strategy & Communication
Legal
Our legal team is primarily responsible for the worldwide protection of Scotch Whisky.
At any one time, the team will be handling between 60 to 70 cases in courts around the world, many more investigations and a substantial trademark caseload.
Alan Park, Director of Legal Affairs
Alan Park leads the Legal team at the Scotch Whisky Association in its objective to protect the Scotch Whisky geographical indication across the world. Awarded best not-for-profit in-house legal team of the year at the World Trademark Review awards in 2019, 2020 and 2023, the team is currently handling more than 60 cases in courts around the world, investigating more than 100 suspicious products and objecting to more than 500 trademark applications, in addition to seeking better recognition and protection for Scotch Whisky in global markets. Formerly a partner in a Glasgow law firm, Alan joined the SWA as Legal Counsel in 2003 and became Director of Legal Affairs in 2016.
Corporate Services
The Corporate Services team are responsible for the organisation's finance, HR, information management and administrative operations, as well as leading on the SWA's digital transformation project.
Their team of administrative experts provide invaluable support to all SWA colleagues.
Sara Jackson, Chief Operating Officer
Sara Jackson joined the SWA as Chief Operating Officer in June 2022.
She has been running successful organisations and leading effective teams for over 10 years now.
Her career highlights include running the operations for a specialist payroll solutions company in the private sector, CEO in the third sector running the UK division of a global micro finance institute and most recently as Operations Director at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.
Sara’s key areas of interest are organisational development, business efficiency and getting the best out of people.
International
Our international team supports the global growth of Scotch as a quality product consumed in 180 markets around the world. The team helps prevent and improve market access issues faced by our member companies in exporting Scotch Whisky. This can include issues such as customs requirements, definitions of whisky, taxation of Scotch in relation to other spirits or labelling requirements. It also works on alcohol policy and promoting responsible drinking in our global markets.
The international team also includes an EU and Brexit team who are responsible for coordinating the industry’s response to, and navigation of, the UK’s exit from the EU.
Ian McKendrick joined the SWA in 2019 as International Director, leading the team which focuses on the growth of Scotch Whisky’s global exports and on improving market access for member companies.
Having spent over 20 years working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ian has held a variety of positions in London and overseas, including roles at the British Embassy in Beijing, British Consulate General in Hong Kong and a number of short-term assignments at British Embassies around the world. He has also spent four years on secondment to the European Commission and two years as Managing Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in China. Prior to his role at the British Embassy in Beijing, Ian spent two years on full time Mandarin language training.
Ian McKendrick, International Director
Deputy Directors
Peter Clark, Deputy Director - Industry Sustainability
Lindesay Low, Deputy Director - Legal Affairs
Liz Gibbs, Deputy Director - Operations
Fraser Grieve, Deputy Director - Strategy & Communications