At Proof 8, we're continuing to grow our team to support our vision for the future. Following 

Duncan and Jane joining our board last year

, we're excited to announce two key additions to our team.

These strategic hires will play a significant role in our journey as we continue to evolve under the 


Strategic hires to strengthen our mission

Stuart Maxwell joins from William Grant & Sons as our new Head of Product, while Alastair Cruickshank steps in as Head of Sales, bringing 20 years of experience across SaaS businesses and the hospitality sector.


William Grant & Sons needs no introduction – they're one of the world's largest producers of Scotch Whisky. After a decade there, Stuart brings a wealth of expertise that will prove invaluable to our customers and product development roadmap. He'll work closely with Alastair, who will serve as an important conduit between customers and our product team, ensuring businesses are matched with solutions that meet their evolving needs and futureproof them for growth.

Stuart's credentials are second to none. At William Grant & Sons he spent over a decade mastering all elements of spirits operations – from technical process innovation and liquid supply to, most recently, maturation. He is perfectly positioned to support businesses in leveraging cutting-edge technology at the most transformative touchpoints for maximum impact – all without sacrificing craft and tradition.


As Head of Product, Stuart's focus is clear: keeping customers at the heart of our product roadmap. His mission is to develop our platform to not only meet the evolving demands of the industry but also offer a seamless, best-in-class user experience that makes complex workflows simple and efficient.


Stuart says about joining Proof 8, "I'm passionate about safeguarding the future of the whisky industry and maintaining the tradition that goes into making this most incredible liquid. To be competitive in the industry today, it comes down to how a business harnesses technology, and the opportunity this brings to innovate and move forward with greater efficiency and transparency. As Head of Product, I can really make a difference in driving forward a platform that empowers distilleries and warehouses while staying true to their craft.


With the growing pressures of operational transparency, 

 and rising costs, the need for innovative, customer-focused solutions has never been greater. My time at William Grant & Sons gave me incredible insight into the complexities of spirits operations and this will be invaluable as I develop the features of our Proof 8 platform."

With two decades of experience across SaaS and hospitality businesses, Alastair has spent his career digging deep into what customers truly need to scale their business and crafting strategies that deliver real, tangible results. Now, he's bringing that commitment to Proof 8, where he'll be the linchpin between our customers and product development team.


After our successes in 2024 and the growing global demand we're seeing for our solutions, he'll be driving efforts in new markets worldwide, helping customers to unlock the potential of connected ecosystems.


Alastair says, "It's an incredible opportunity to be part of a team that's redefining the spirits industry through innovation and digitalisation. I'm excited to connect with our customers, understand their unique challenges, and ensure they're positioned for growth in 2025 and beyond."

Alastair and Stuart join us at an exciting time. With customer adoption across the UK and Ireland and plans to expand further to the US and Asia in 2025, we're committed to simplifying distillery and warehouse management.


Having the right team skills, copious amounts of passion and a laser focus are everything right now as we look to define our next chapter as Proof 8.


Rob Hollands, CEO, sums things up nicely: “We’re building solutions with direct insights from the distilleries and warehouses we serve, which has given us an in-depth understanding of the complex challenges they face. Alastair and Stuart joining the team further strengthens our ability to deliver on our promise of developing a best-in-class solution that optimises the entire spirits journey. They will play a key role in shaping the future of our business and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the industry’s digital transformation.”

Welcome to the Proof 8 family Stuart and Alastair.

Find out more about how our platform is leading the industry's digital transformation, moving away from the constraint of Excel.

“Alastair and Stuart joining the team further strengthens our ability to deliver on our promise of developing a best-in-class solution that optimises the entire spirits journey.”

Platform

Marketplace

Connected Products Coming soon

About

Team

Careers

New spirits: Our team expands

New spirits: Our team expands

More from Proof 8

Platform

Marketplace

Connected Products Coming soon

About

Team

Careers

New spirits: Our team expands

More from Proof 8

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