At its summer Board of Directors meeting, the Distilled Spirits Council elected Diageo North America President Deirdre Mahlan Chair of the national trade association, representing leading producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the United States. Mahlan succeeds Moët Hennessy North America President & CEO Jim Clerkin, who has chaired the Council since 2016. The Board also recently appointed Clarkson Hine, Beam Suntory Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs and a member of the Council’s Board, to serve as Interim President & CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council following the decision of Kraig R. Naasz to step down from the position. The Board appointed a search committee of senior executives to begin a national search for the Council’s next President & CEO.