Former UK Ambassador Ian Duddy has been appointed as international director of the Scotch Whisky Association.
Duddy brings over 25 years of experience in senior government roles, including the Foreign Office and Scottish Government, where he was most recently chief executive to the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry.
In his new position with the SWA, Duddy will lead its international engagement, supporting the global growth of Scotch by improving market access and strengthening relationships around the world.
Duddy is certainly qualified to make friends on the world stage – his extensive career in the Foreign Office had saw him posted to Argentina, Afghanistan and the UK Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
He was also British Ambassador to Uruguay from 2016 to 2020 and Interim Ambassador to Chile from 2020 to 2021.
Throughout his career, which included a secondment to the UK Intellectual Property Office, he has worked to support UK businesses by tackling barriers to trade and promoting effective regulation.
Duddy said: “Scotch Whisky is an iconic product, with a heritage that’s loved and respected across the globe. Over the course of my career, I have seen its global reach, and the complexities businesses face when navigating international markets.
“I’m delighted to be joining the Scotch Whisky Association as international director. I look forward to working with colleagues in the SWA team and with partners, governments and stakeholders around the world to support the industry’s continued growth across more than 160 markets, and to unlocking new opportunities for the future.”
Duddy joins the SWA team at a turbulent time for the industry – while Scotch Whisky exports to the United States have been negatively impacted by tariffs, other markets, including China and India, offer the potential for growth.
SWA chief executive Mark Kent said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Ian to the Scotch Whisky Association at a crucial time for our industry.
“Ian’s expertise in diplomacy, foreign affairs and trade policy will be invaluable as the Scotch Whisky sector navigates an increasingly volatile global environment, with producers also facing additional cost pressures at home.
“Ian brings a strong track record of championing UK interests overseas, and his leadership will strengthen our voice on the global stage as we work to achieve our shared aim of a sustainable and thriving Scotch Whisky industry.”
