executive directors
PADDY FLETCHER
FOUNDER / CO-CEO
After a short stint as a financial journalist, Paddy switched careers into finance, training as an accountant in London. After a short spell working for a major house builder, he entered the world of tech start-ups. His final role before going full-time on the distillery was as Finance Director EMEA at WeWork, during a time of extraordinary growth for the global co-working space start-up.
Beyond whisky, Paddy is passionate about building a tech-enabled company that is efficient, ethical and well-run.
IAN STIRLING
FOUNDER / CO-CEO
Before founding Muckle Brig with Paddy, Ian spent a decade working in the wine industry. Starting on the shop floor at Majestic Wines in the UK, he then landed a dream role as Head of Off Trade at Roberson Wines, a London Merchant. He created brands and sold wine to clients around the world, as well as multiple retailers in the UK.
Ian’s primary focus at Muckle Brig is on commercial operations and brand creation.
NEIL AITKEN
BRAND GROWTH DIRECTOR
With a love of brands, distilled spirits, and driving sustainable growth, Neil spent the first 17 years of his career working for multinationals and global spirits companies. With roles in brand marketing and business development in the UK and internationally, Neil worked on some truly great brands, including Southern Comfort, Jack Daniel’s, Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, and with some truly great teams.
In 2015, Neil left the world of big whisky brands, to join the newly independent Scotch Malt Whisky Society, where he led the scale-up, and transformation, of the international business, and company revenue.
Neil, Ian and Paddy began a conversation in June 2021, following the IPO of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and he joined Muckle Brig in September 2021.
non-exec directors
Fraser thornton
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Fraser, a qualified Chartered Accountant, began his career in the spirits Industry almost 30 years ago. Joining Burn Stewart Distillers plc in 1995, he initially held a variety of commercial and marketing roles before being appointed Managing Director in 2006.
He was subsequently based in the Caribbean and held roles as the Chairman of Angostura and Managing Director of Wray & Nephew before returning to the U.K. to oversee the sale of Burn Stewart to Distell in 2013.
He held a variety of senior group management roles in Distell and was the first non South African to join the Executive management Board, before his appointment as Chairman of Distell International Holdings in 2021.
Other positions held include Non Executive Director of Scottish Golf and Triyit Limited and he serves as the Treasurer and deputy Chairman of The Keepers Of The Quaich.
STEFANO FAIELLA
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Stefano is a Director at Threesixty Architecture; the firm that designed the Port of Leith Distillery.
Having first met Paddy and Ian in 2014 when they first established the company, he subsequently became a private investor and mentor to the pair, lending his own experience of running a values-led SME to the founders as they grew their own company.
He was invited to join the board of Muckle Brig in 2023.
Jonathan Lonie
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jonathan Lonie is Managing Director of Silvermills Estates and Land Ltd, a commercial property investment and development company primarily focused on the hospitality sector in Edinburgh.
Formerly a real estate economics consultant for AECOM, Jonathan has a background in economic modelling and feasibility, having worked on visitor attraction, theme park and leisure development projects across the EMEA region.
KING LUMPKIN
BOARD OBSERVER
King is Chief Acquisition Officer at Prolific Capital, a growth firm based in Indianapolis, USA.
The company owns a range of media companies, including JDA Worldwide (a full service marketing agency), Conquer (paid media) and Chernoff Newman (a PR agency). The combined enterprises have offices in 18 states.
Prolific invested in Muckle Brig in 2019, and also helped the founders to raise further capital from private investors across the USA. King now represents those investors with an observer seat on the board.