Glencairn Crystal announces next-generation leadership team to accelerate innovation and growth

The award-winning, Scottish glassware company, Glencairn, has announced a series of strategic director-level appointments as it strengthens its leadership team to support its next generation of innovation, development and global growth as a premium glassware brand. Over the past two years, Glencairn has expanded into more than 80 additional countries, with its products now reaching customers in over 140 markets worldwide.

Glencairn has expanded its leadership team with three dynamic industry figures bringing extensive experience across the drinks and packaging sectors. The transition also signals the retirement of founder Raymond Davidson, who established the family company in 1981, and is widely respected for having played a pivotal role in building Glencairn Crystal into an internationally recognised name in the drinks industry.

Kirsty Nicholson, already one of the whisky industry’s most renowned creative women, has been promoted to director level having been with the company for 12 years and previously serving as Marketing and Design Manager. Kirsty has been nominated for various awards – she led the marketing team to win Marketing Campaign of the Year at the 2025 China-Scotland Business Awards and is also a finalist in this year’s Women in Packaging Excellence Awards. In her new role, Kirsty will continue to lead and inspire the marketing team as the brand evolves into its next chapter of global growth.

Robyn Macdonald has been appointed to the board bringing fresh expertise and creative leadership to Glencairn’s internationally renowned design capabilities. With more than a decade of experience in the packaging industry, she will play a key role in driving the company’s continued pioneering product innovation and will work closely with Glencairn’s global partners and clients to bring ambitious creative visions to life.

Having built more than 20 years of experience within the drinks industry, Aileen Logan has formally joined the leadership team after several years with the business. In her new role, she will play a key part in supporting Glencairn’s continued growth, with a focus on strengthening people, culture, and operational excellence across the organisation. She will also help shape the company’s future as it continues to evolve internationally.

The wider leadership team remains in place, with Jason Kennedy continuing to lead the sales team and James Crilly focusing on purchasing and procurement. Scott Davidson has been appointed as Managing Director, taking over the role from his brother Paul Davidson, who now becomes Chairman.

Founded 45 years ago, Glencairn has grown from a small family business into an internationally recognised brand in premium glassware. It is known for its unrivalled craftsmanship serving the global whisky and spirits industry in the creation of bespoke decanters - often for the world’s rarest and most exclusive spirits. The company is also renowned for the iconic Glencairn Glass which is the world’s official glass for whisky, with over 50 million glasses being sold since it was launched 25 yeas ago.

In recent years, Glencairn has significantly expanded its product portfolio through a series of industry-leading innovations. A proud sponsor of the whisky industry’s prestigious Distillers One of One Auction, the company crafted the luxury decanters for more than a quarter of the one-of-a-kind lots featured in last year’s auction.

Scott Davidson, Glencairn Crystal Managing Director said:“These changes mark an exciting new chapter for Glencairn as we continue to evolve and position the business for the future whilst building on the family legacy that has shaped the company for more than four decades.

With our strong new leadership team in place, we are well positioned to guide the business through its next generation of growth - driving continued creativity, pioneering innovation and international expansion yet at the same time maintaining the craftsmanship, quality and customer focus that have defined Glencairn since the very beginning.”

The company’s continued success has also been recognised through a number of major recent awards. Last year, Glencairn received The King’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation as well as the Manufacturing Innovation Award at the Insider Made in Scotland Awards. The company was named a finalist for the prestigious Exporter of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2025.

For more information about Glencairn, visit www.glencairn.com