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Director
Andrew is Master Distiller and co-founder of Sky Wave Gin, a small-batch, award-winning craft distillery based in Bicester in Oxfordshire, and was appointed a director of the Gin Guild board in November 2025.
Before entering the world of gin, Andrew served for 24 years in the military, a career that helped shape his discipline, attention to detail and global perspective. In 2018 he founded Sky Wave with his co-founder, Rachel, transforming a personal passion for gin into a successful craft enterprise.
Sky Wave quickly gained international recognition: within a few years the brand had collected a number of international medals and Andrew and his team are known for creative experimentation and quality craftsmanship, from inventive botanical blends to pioneering limited-edition runs and bespoke distillations.
As a Gin Guild director, Andrew brings a fresh, craft-driven perspective grounded in innovation, hands-on distilling and real-world brand building. He has indicated his intention to help push the Guild’s membership expansion, support small and emerging distillers, and explore initiatives such as a formal distilling apprenticeship in England, underlining a commitment to nurturing the next generation of gin talent.
Andrew joined the Board: November 2025
Director
Anne brings a rare combination of scientific rigour and craft-distilling passion to the Gin Guild board. As Master Distiller at Bombay Sapphire (part of Bacardi), she combines her technical background, including a Chemistry PhD, with hands-on experience in distillation to champion high standards across the industry.
Her contributions to the Guild have extended beyond distillation, shaping educational programmes and sustainability initiatives. Notably, she played a leading role in developing the Guild’s Sustainability Toolkit, helping ensure distillers of all sizes have practical guidance for sustainable production.
Anne’s perspective is especially valuable in bridging the interests of large global producers and smaller craft distillers, ensuring the Guild remains inclusive and technically robust. Her presence underlines the Guild’s commitment to quality, innovation, and responsible growth of gin worldwide.
Anne joined the Board: January 2016
Director
Charles is a living embodiment of gin heritage, an 10th generation distiller whose family’s involvement in gin dates back to the 17th century.
After a youthful flirtation with motorsport ambitions, followed by a stint in accountancy, Charles embraced his heritage by founding Thames Distillers in 1996. Since then, he has built a quiet powerhouse: shorter-run bespoke distillation and bottling for a wide array of gin brands.
For Charles, the art of gin lies in collaboration – working with brand owners to develop flavour profiles and then quietly bringing them to life. The thrill, he says, comes from seeing a line-up of bottles on a bar shelf across the world and knowing “we had something to do with that one.”
As a founding director of the Gin Guild, Charles has long championed the need for a neutral, inclusive forum for gin professionals, a place where established distillers, newcomers and contract producers alike can meet, share knowledge and promote quality standards.
Charles joined the Board: July 2012
Director and Board Chairman
Christopher has long been a foundational force behind the Gin Guild. As Chairman of the board and veteran distiller (with several decades of experience), he has shaped the strategy and public presence of the Guild from its earliest days.
Through his stewardship, the Guild has grown into a global home for gin producers, trade professionals and brand owners, an inclusive forum where quality, collaboration and custodianship of gin’s heritage are championed.
Christopher’s leadership ensures the Guild remains both aspirational and practical, balancing respect for tradition with a forward-looking vision for innovation, sustainability and global expansion. His long association with Hayman’s Distillers and his standing within the industry lend credibility and gravitas to the Guild at all levels.
Joined the Board: July 2012
Director
Jim offers wide-ranging experience across the global spirits industry, informed by more than two decades working in PR, marketing and product development for prominent gin and spirits brands.
Since 2016, he has served as a Board Director of the Gin Guild, bringing to the table a deep understanding of brand development, trade relationships and market dynamics.
Beyond marketing acumen, Jim leads with a strong sense of provenance and respect for tradition. As owner of Starspice Ingredients Ltd, a specialist supplier of gin botanicals, herbs and spices, he connects with distillers all over the world over the essential ingredients that give gin its character, with over 250 botanicals under supply.
He also plays a central role in the Guild’s sustainability and education efforts, publicly championing the Sustainability Toolkit as a roadmap that helps distilleries large and small demonstrate credible environmental credentials.
Jim joined the Board: January 2016
Director
Kathy serves on the Gin Guild board, representing a perspective grounded in leadership, diversity, and industry stewardship. She brings to the board a commitment to upholding the Guild’s foundational values of excellence, integrity and global inclusiveness.
While less publicly documented than some of her fellow board members, her appointment reflects the Guild’s intent to balance technical and commercial gin expertise with broader industry oversight, ensuring the voice of seasoned executives and guardians of governance of all sizes is always present.
Kathy’s role helps bridge the needs of large global producers, small craft operators and the wider trade – reinforcing the Guild’s commitment to unity across diversity in the gin community worldwide. She is also an experienced BBC Radio presenter. she was awarded an MBE in 2023 for services to Trade and the community in Brighton.
Kathy joined the Board: September 2022
Director
Martin entered the Gin Guild board with extensive experience from the global spirits world. As former Chief Marketing Officer of Pernod Ricard, until his retirement in 2014, he oversaw marketing for many of the Group’s key brands, including major gin, whisky, rum and spirits labels.
His tenure in marketing leadership included global oversight of complex brand portfolios across multiple markets, giving him a strategic perspective on positioning gin within a saturated spirits landscape.
Outside marketing, Martin’s background includes significant engagement in industry bodies, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts and Manufacturers, member of the Institute of Directors, the British Squadron of Armagnac Musketeers and plays a significant role in the Worshipful Company of Distillers.
His presence on the Gin Guild board strengthens the organisation’s reach into global trade, distribution, brand governance and high-level industry advocacy, helping ensure gin remains relevant across changing markets and consumer tastes.
Martin joined the Board: September 2015
Director
Sophie Best is one of the most recent additions to the Gin Guild board, having joined in late 2025 as a Director alongside her co-appointee, Andrew.
In her role as General Manager at Silent Pool Distillery (part of William Grant & Sons), Sophie brings fresh operational and brand-building experience from one of the UK’s most recognisable premium gin houses.
Her appointment reflects the Guild’s commitment to bridging established legacy producers with dynamic modern craft distillery operations. Sophie’s insight into market trends, brand positioning and distillery management will contribute to shaping the Guild’s global relevance as membership expands internationally.
She has spent most of her working life in fast-paced and entrepreneurial companies and understands the highs and lows that can come with that. In these environments it’s important to work out what is noise, cut it out, and focus on the things that matter and move the dial. She says that same approach will come with her to the Guild Board and is also keen to support the great work already done on education, and would love to see more apprenticeships created in our industry.
Sophie joined the Board: November 2025
Director General
Pal has served as Director General of the Gin Guild since 2022, guiding the organisation through a period of significant change and continued global growth in the gin category. With a professional background deeply rooted in spirits communication, brand stewardship and industry collaboration, Pal brings a modern, forward-looking approach to one of the sector’s most respected institutions.
Pal oversees the Guild’s work in promoting excellence, supporting members worldwide and safeguarding the category’s integrity. This includes strengthening technical knowledge, fostering responsible production standards and ensuring that best practice is shared across an international network of distillers, rectifiers and industry partners.
Pal’s tenure has seen an expansion of educational programmes, greater visibility for innovation within the category, and a renewed emphasis on inclusivity and community. Under Pal’s leadership, events such as Ginposium and the Annual Dinner have continued to grow in reputation, drawing expert speakers, leading distillers and influential voices from across the global drinks industry.
Dedicated to championing both heritage and modern craft, Pal works closely with notable Guild members to ensure the organisation remains a trusted, authoritative voice in the world of gin.