Whyte & Mackay appoints Kirsten Hilton as Global HR Director

Whyte & Mackay has appointed experienced HR leader Kirsten Hilton as its new Global HR Director, succeeding Fiona Gibson following her distinguished and highly respected career with the premium spirits producer.

Kirsten joins Whyte & Mackay from Chivas Brothers, where she spent more than three-and-a-half years as HR Director for Operations. She also brings extensive senior HR leadership experience from the defence and aerospace sectors, having held leadership positions with Thales and Rolls-Royce.

Her appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for Whyte & Mackay’s global people strategy, with Hilton taking responsibility for leading the organisation’s HR agenda and supporting the continued development of its people, culture and organisational capability across the business.

She succeeds Fiona Gibson, who has stepped down after an illustrious HR career spanning many years. Widely respected across both Whyte & Mackay and the wider HR profession, Fiona has played an instrumental role in shaping the company’s people strategy, developing leadership capability and fostering a culture centred on engagement, inclusion and high performance. Her contribution has left a lasting legacy, and she departs with the thanks and best wishes of colleagues across the business.

Welcoming the appointment, Whyte & Mackay CEO, Michael Sloan said: “Kirsten’s blend of strategic HR expertise and deep understanding of the premium drinks sector will be invaluable as the business continues to invest in its people and drive sustainable growth.

Working closely with leadership teams across the organisation, Kirsten will help shape the company’s evolving people agenda, strengthen organisational capability and ensure colleagues continue to thrive as Whyte & Mackay builds on its position as one of Scotland’s leading premium spirits businesses.

Commenting on her appointment, Kirsten Hilton said: “I’m very excited to have joined Whyte & Mackay and am looking forward to getting started. It’s a privilege to join a business with such a strong reputation, brilliant brands and talented teams. I’m excited to meet colleagues across the organisation and to start working together with them to build on the company’s success and to shape an exciting future.”

Kirsten’s appointment reflects Whyte & Mackay’s continued commitment to investing in its people as a key driver of business performance. With extensive leadership experience across global manufacturing environments and the drinks industry, she is well placed to lead the next phase of the company’s people strategy while building on the strong foundations established by Fiona Gibson.