Five minutes with Mark Thorne, Global Brand Director at Chivas Brothers

Each year Scotch whisky and premium gin producer Chivas Brothers seeks passionate graduates to join its International Graduate Brand Ambassador Programme. Mark Thorne, Chivas Brothers’ Global Brand Director who helps to oversee the programme, spoke to Executive Grapevine about the importance of empowering graduates to thrive in their role and why it’s vital to pass on skills to the next generation.

Why is it important for you to lead by example?

The spirits industry, by nature, is really exciting and fast paced which means Chivas Brothers Graduate Ambassadors need to adapt quickly and really immerse themselves in the business and our brands. Once our graduates enter an international market they are given a lot of autonomy to set up their own tasting events and to train bartenders on our world class portfolio of whisky and gin brands. This means they often look to more senior members of the team for inspiration and guidance.

As a Global Brand Director, I believe it’s incredibly important to lead by example. By embodying the qualities you want to see in your own staff and by offering valuable insight and support, you can empower your employees to grow and develop and feel respected as part of the team.