Full name: Kirsten Grant Meikle
Role: Director of Prestige, William Grant & Sons UK
DOB: 12/5/1975
Birthplace: Edinburgh
Website: www.williamgrant.com
Fun Fact: “I love fancy dress! I used to have cupboards full of the stuff but when I moved down south with the company I had to give it up (or just grow up!) My particular favourite was the elf ears…”
So, great, great-granddaughter of the man himself and at the head of things today. You seem to be making a sterling go of it, but did you feel pressure to ‘assume the mantel’?
Not at all. As a family business we always encourage our Next Generation to be responsible owners and that certainly means taking an interest in the business however there is no pressure on anyone to actually enter into full time employment if they don’t want to. The choice is theirs.
…or was this something you naturally gravitated towards?
I was always interested in the industry. My father built and owned a brewery in Edinburgh in the 80’s – The Leith Brewing Company and he also owned pubs so I was brought up in it really.
Did you go straight into the business or do anything else beforehand?
No – I ran bars in Edinburgh after my business degree. I then did a post grad in marketing and following that joined Matthew Clark, the drinks wholesale business where I held a number of positions, starting in sales and finishing 8 years later as Wine Range Controller. I was then asked if I wanted to join the business by my late uncle Charles Grant Gordon – former Chairman and Life President of the business.
As I understand it, family held businesses of this scale are quite rare these days. So, there’s no public/shareholder pressure but instead you have to work with a bunch of people very close to you. What’s that like?
It has its challenges but on the whole it is fantastic. We all get on well and support each other through the ups and downs. As family working in the business, we understand what we (and the wider shareholding family) want to achieve as a family and a business.
Which of the drinks in your portfolio are you most fond of? What might we find you drinking on a day off? Or a day on?
I am afraid I can’t single out any specific products. It really depends on where I am, who I am with, what I am eating and who’s paying!
If you could share a drink with anyone (fictional or real, living or dead), anywhere and anytime you chose – who would you pick, where would you do it and what would you share with them?
My dad! I love hanging out with him and we like to eat Thai food together in a restaurant called Dusit in Edinburgh and just chew the fat! We always finish with a dram or 2 of Grant’s – he takes his straight up but I prefer rocks in mine. My particular favourite is Grants Sherry cask.
What’s a ‘day in your life’ like? Could you give us an insight into your life?
Every day is different that’s for sure. I could be in the office in Hampshire or Richmond or often I am out in trade seeing customers, usually in London but sometimes further afield. I also spend a lot of time out in the evening as this is when most of our events and activations happen.
I also spend a lot of time in the summer at our Glenfiddich and Balvenie distilleries or even one of the other sites in Scotland in Bellshill or Girvan distillery where we make Grant’s whisky and Hendricks Gin.
What’s your greatest/most memorable professional moment been, so far?
There have been many. I have achieved a lot in my career so far, I am not sure one particular thing stands but I am sure the best is yet to come!
Where do you get your ideas?
Lots of different places! I have a great network of friends and family, a lot of whom hold very senior roles in the drinks industry and I certainly get a lot of inspiration from them. I also travel a lot and like to visit on bars and retailers around the world. I never fail to see a bottle of Grants on shelf in a bar wherever I go!
What’s your philosophy, summed up in a sentence?
Work hard, play hard!
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had, how did you overcome it, and what did you learn from it?
I would say it was probably joining the family business. It was quite daunting and certainly a challenge. There was a lot of people who learned a lot from this experience including the family.
Who’s the person who’s most inspired you in your work – food/drink industry or otherwise? Is there anyone that you draw inspiration or strength from? Do you have any specific culinary influences?
I have had a number of formal business coaches and mentors through my career but I would say that 2 people really stick out in my mind, first and foremost, my late Uncle Charles Grant Gordon. I adored him and spent a good 3 years learning everything I could from him about the business and life in general. He had a great attitude to life and a wicked sense of humour!
What advice would you give to aspiring food and drinks entrepreneurs who’d want the kind of results that you’ve had?
First and foremost you have to believe in what it is that you do, sell etc. If you are not truly passionate about your product then that will come through to your customers. We are so lucky to have such history and also an ending commitment to quality.
Grant’s whisky is consistently winning awards year after year. We won IWSC Scotch Producer of the Year and Distiller of the Year for the umpteenth time again this year. Also, you must believe in yourself of course!
If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing instead?
I would still be in the wine trade for sure. I love it and the people – it certainly has quite a different vibe from spirits.
If you could get anyone to try your products (fictional or real, living or dead) who would you pick and which of the drinks would you like them to try? Assume that they go on to be your brand ambassador…
I would really love to bring back my Great Great Grandfather, William Grant. Imagine what he would make of the company today and our breadth of products. He would be so proud of what we have achieved over the generations and what an ambassador he would be!!
What’s your ultimate aim and goal for the business? If you could achieve anything with it, what would you pick? Money and reality are no obstacle, so shoot for the moon…
This would be in line with our company vision ‘to be the most coveted, branded spirits company in the world’ and to ensure the continuation of the business under family ownership for many years to come
Where next for you?
As a shareholder in the business, really I have many options. Too many in fact, however there is still much to do in my current role.
Anything I missed that you’d like to include here? (include as much or as little as you’d like)
Working in the family business can be very challenging but at the same time extremely rewarding. There are many people in the business that we also consider family. People who have worked for us for 30, 40 and 50 plus years for example David Stewart MBE, our Malt Master – 54 years. Dennis MacBain, our coppersmith, 57 years. These guys really are the heart and soul of our business.
My own particular branch of the family are known as the ‘Glendronacher’s. My Great Grandfather, Captain Charles Grant was the black sheep of the family – the wild one! I was reading The Life and Times of William Grant recently and really realised that the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree!
And we always ask three customary ridiculous questions…
If you were given an infinite budget but had to spend it all on entirely frivolous stuff, what are the first 3 things you’d buy, and why?
Diamonds…..lots of them. I love sparkly things and bling!
Vintage champagne!
Shoes – Imelda Marcos eat your heart out.
If you had to have any character from Greek mythology come and work with you, who would you employ?
Probably Hermes, son of Zeus and the Titan Atlas’s daughter Maia. He was the messenger of the gods, fast and cunning and the god of Commerce and the Market – that would be helpful in the business for sure
You have acquired a pet T-Rex and are morally obliged to look after it. It is 13 ft tall at the hips, eats half a ton of raw meat a day, and likes taking long walks. What would you call it and what would you do to keep it entertained and housed?
It’s obvious, ‘Tiny’! he would certainly have to live at Grant’s Distillery. We could train him to entertain the visitors and guard our casks. He could easily live in one of the warehouses – there’s plenty of room!
Image credits: Colin Hampden-White