Tue 1st Dec 2015 - Innis & Gunn hires James Coyle as managing director Innis & Gunn hires James Coyle as managing director: Innis & Gunn has hired James Coyle as managing director. The independent brewer, known for its innovative and oak-aged crafted beers, has been at the forefront of the British craft beer scene for over a decade, and has had a relationship with Coyle from 2003 when he helped launch its flagship beer, Innis & Gunn Original, to the UK market. In February of this year he joined the company’s board as a non-executive director and has been a long standing supporter and advocate of the Innis & Gunn business. Coyle will oversee all areas of the Innis & Gunn Brewing Co, including international expansion and roll out of the company’s newly launched retail operation arm, The Beer Kitchen by Innis & Gunn. He joins Innis & Gunn from Marston’s where he held the position of deputy managing director within the Beer Company. Coyle has worked in the beer industry for 20 years, first joining Marston’s to set up a new Take Home and Export division in 1995. Following almost a decade at Wychwood Brewery (latterly Refresh), where he was instrumental in the development of Hobgoblin plus a range of innovative beer brands, he also helped expand Wychwood’s managed retail estate to 30 units. In 2003 he played a key part in bringing Innis & Gunn to the UK market, overseeing the launch and UK distribution agreement through Wychwood Brewery. Following the acquisition of Wychwood in 2008, Coyle returned to Marston’s as national sales and marketing director before taking the role of deputy managing director. Dougal Sharp, founder and master brewer of Innis & Gunn, said: “James has an unparalleled wealth of experience in the brewing and bars business and has been a true supporter of ours since our launch in 2003. As his career has moved on he has always maintained a strong professional interest in our progress and as a result this next step feels entirely right for us, during a monumental year for the business. This year we saw the launch of our first crowd funding initiative, The Innis & Gunn BeerBond, where we successfully raised our target of £3m to help us build a new state of the art brewery in Scotland. We’ve also opened our first bar and restaurant in Edinburgh, The Beer Kitchen by Innis & Gunn, with plans underway to have another two outlets opened in the UK by spring 2016. James’ vast experience will be invaluable in helping us realise our ambitions for the business and drive the global acceleration of our brands to the next level.” Coyle added: “Innis & Gunn is a truly entrepreneurial business that has already had huge success in taking its remarkable beers to an international audience. I have known and worked with Dougal for many years and am thrilled to be joining the company at a time where the global appetite for innovative, flavour packed beers has never been greater. My goal is to further bolster the global appeal and availability of the company’s craft beer brands and contribute to the business’s mission of changing the world of beer for the better.” Richard Westwood, managing director of Marston’s Beer Company, added: “James re-joined Marston’s in 2008 as part of the acquisition of Wychwood Brewery and has been a highly influential member of the board. During his time with Marston’s he has been instrumental in developing plans, ideas and people in all parts of our business and this has been a key factor in our past and present success.”