About Us

Charles founded Beamish International Ltd in April 2018 after founding the internal Whyte & Mackay Private Client business with The Dalmore. He has over 17 years of experience in the drinks and financial services industry laterally as a Director of Panmure Gordon & Co overseeing global family offices. His involvement in disruptive investing within the wine & spirits industry has seen him being recognised as one of the industry’s leading specialists. Charles is a Freeman of The City of London, A Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers and A Commandeur de Bordeaux.

Charlie has been researching and writing Whisky Books & articles since 1981, and shares his enthusiasm and knowledge by giving Talks & Tastings around the world, by leading ‘whisky expeditions’ in Scotland and by presenting training programmes and Masterclasses for whisky companies, clubs and individuals. He has written over 18 books on Scotch whisky, many of them bestsellers. He is the Master of the Quaich and recognised as the whisky industry's leading authority and expert. Charlie was awarded the MBE in 2021 for services to scotch whisky, to UK exports, and to charity.

Matthew is a Chartered Accountant having trained with PwC.  Having spent 6 years working in Business Advisory at PwC and then Grant Thornton, he joined Crieff Hydro hotel group as the Finance Director where he was part of the leadership team growing the hotel group through acquisition and management contracts. Subsequent to this, Matthew has worked as a Portfolio Finance Director for a number of companies across multiple sectors developing finance functions, implementing equity and debt funding structures, selling businesses and providing M&A support. He also worked for Gordon & MacPhail with overall project management responsibility for delivering their new whisky distillery The Cairn. Matthew is also a non-executive director for Crieff Hydro hotel group and the Fruitmarket Gallery.

Kezia has a wealth of 20 years’ experience in the luxury sector, specialising in process improvement, creative solutions, and superior client service. Formerly a Director at Sotheby’s, where she worked her way up over 14 years, Kezia managed the Shipping Logistics Department in London. She also ran the Travelling Exhibitions Team across Europe. After Sotheby's, Kezia took a role as Head of Operations at Asprey where she led an international team across 10 stores globally, and managed Asprey's e-commerce distribution. Kezia joined Beamish International in 2020. Kezia is Freeman of the City of London, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Innholders, and a Compagnon du Beaujolais.

Maxime Lecoq brings over 14 years of international experience in luxury whisky, fine wine, and hospitality, with a focus on building long-term relationships and curating bespoke collections for private clients. He has held senior roles at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, Hedonism Wines and Hide in London, and most recently led the Concierge Service for a fine wine Web3 start-up. Maxime advises collectors across the globe, curating and managing ultra rare whisky portfolios with precision and discretion. A certified Wine and Sake Sommelier, he is fortunate to work in a field that aligns with his passion. Outside of work, Maxime once crossed the Atlantic by sailboat, and finds joy in the simple yet perfect pairing of fine wine or spirits with exceptional food. His motto? Carpe diem. Taste wisely. Indulge freely.

John spent 16 years as a professional rugby player, captaining the national team and representing Scotland 76 times. Since retiring from professional rugby, he has built a career in the premium Scotch whisky industry, working with private clients and collectors globally. He began his career with Whyte & Mackay and The Dalmore, spending over five years developing their private client programme by advising on rare casks and curating bespoke distillery visits and whisky experiences. With over six years of industry experience, John leverages his background in elite sport and luxury service to deliver a trusted, personal experience.

Amanda is an experienced Executive Assistant with a diverse background in commercial and non-profit sectors. She joins Beamish International from Scottish Rugby, where she supported the People & Engagement division. Known for her proactive approach and event expertise, Amanda brings strong stakeholder engagement skills along with a passion for Scottish heritage and whisky.