Luke Maga joins Senior Management team at Loch Lomond Group, focusing on GTR
Luke Maga, Managing Director – Global Travel Retail & Africa, Middle East & Indian Subcontinent, Loch Lomond Group
Independent distiller Loch Lomond Group has appointed industry executive Luke Maga to the role of Managing Director, Global Travel Retail & Africa, Middle East & Indian Subcontinent.
A veteran of the spirits category within travel retail, Maga joins Loch Lomond Group from CVH Spirits – formerly Distell International – where he spent a decade building distribution and marketing programs for brands including Amarula, Deanston and Bunnahabhain.
Based out of Loch Lomond Group’s Scottish head office at Loch Lomond Distillery, Maga will be responsible for implementing and executing a global growth strategy centered on premiumization and market expansion. The GTR team within Loch Lomond Group will be focusing efforts on driving distribution of the portfolio into Asia Pacific and the Americas in the near future.
Colin Mathews, Loch Lomond Group CEO, said, “The global travel retail channel as well as our business in the domestic markets of Africa, The Middle East and The Indian Sub-Continent is of significant strategic importance to the Loch Lomond Group as a platform for recruitment, brand-building and geographical expansion. Luke’s appointment is an important step as we look to further strengthen our presence around the world and bring to life our amazing portfolio of brands for both global travelers and domestic market consumers.”
“I’m delighted to join Loch Lomond Group and play a part in the growth of its multi-awarded portfolio of brands in global travel retail and across the IAMEA region," said Maga. "The company strongly believes in the importance of the channel and has ambitious investment plans around brand-building and consumer engagement, so it’s an exciting time be coming onboard. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with industry peers and partners at TFWA in October.”
Loch Lomond Group’s travel retail business centers primarily on its three single malt brands, Loch Lomond, Glen Scotia Single Malts, and Littlemill with Loch Lomond Single Malt benefiting from a renewed five-year partnership with The Royal & Ancient Golf Club (The R&A) as the Official Spirit of The Open – the oldest golf tournament in the world. Already a large amount of activation for Loch Lomond has taken place within the GTR space, with its sponsorship of The Open in July celebrated across UK airports. Given the importance of the channel, the GTR business will also continue to have access to small parcels of luxury brand Littlemill, a silent distillery rich in history and highly prized by connoisseurs.
As an entrepreneurial business the portfolio continues to expand beyond Loch Lomond, Glen Scotia, & Littlemill. The company recently launched exciting niche spirits brands Noble Rebel Blended Malt Whisky, Spearhead Blended Grain Whisky and Ben Lomond Gin, all of which showcase the creativity and commitment to quality that is at the heart of Loch Lomond Group’s ethos. 2021 saw the company extend beyond spirits with the acquisition of Champagne Piaff, a young, dynamic and highly distinctive brand in a growth category within travel retail. Champagne Piaff is set to launch with World Duty Free in October.
Loch Lomond will be present at TFWA World Conference & Exhibition 2023 in Cannes, at Bay 31, Bay Village, showcasing new innovations across Loch Lomond, Glen Scotia, Littlemill, Noble Rebel and Champagne Piaff.
