Premium spirits group Edrington has appointed industry veteran Paul Ross as Chief Operating Officer for its India business, underlining the company’s intent to deepen its presence in what has become the world’s largest Scotch whisky market by volume.
Ross will be based in India and will oversee operations, commercial execution and long-term growth plans for Edrington’s portfolio, including single malt brands such as The Macallan and Highland Park. His appointment comes at a time when India is witnessing sustained premiumisation in spirits consumption, supported by rising disposable incomes, a younger legal-drinking-age population and evolving preferences toward high-end international labels.
India’s importance to global Scotch producers has grown steadily in recent years. According to industry data, the country now leads global Scotch whisky volumes, aided by easing trade barriers following the UK–India trade agreement, which provides a phased reduction in import duties on Scotch whisky. These changes are expected to improve accessibility and pricing over the medium term, creating headroom for premium and ultra-premium segments.
Ross brings more than 30 years of experience within the Edrington group. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Edrington Americas, where he played a key role in expanding The Macallan’s footprint in the United States, the company’s largest value market. Over the years, he has held senior leadership positions across Asia Pacific, the United Kingdom and the Americas, giving him broad exposure to both developed and emerging spirits markets.
In his new role, Ross will focus on building local organisational capabilities, strengthening distributor partnerships and creating a scalable operating model tailored to India’s complex regulatory and state-level market structure. The mandate also includes sharpening brand building efforts in the luxury and ultra-luxury whisky segments, where Edrington sees long-term potential.
Commenting on the appointment, Edrington said Ross’s global experience and deep understanding of premium spirits would support the company’s ambition to build a sustainable, locally anchored business in India. With consumption patterns shifting toward quality over quantity, the company believes the market is entering a new phase of growth that favours established single malt portfolios.
Ross’s appointment signals Edrington’s confidence in India as a strategic growth engine for its global Scotch whisky business.
