Weatherbys hires royal archer and whisky blending banker in growth push

Weatherbys Private Bank has made an intriguing addition to their Scottish operation, bringing aboard Edmund Harvey-Jamieson as a senior private banker in Edinburgh. What makes this appointment particularly fascinating is Ed’s dual life as both a seasoned banking professional and a whisky entrepreneur.

Harvey-Jamieson brings serious credentials to the table – 25 years in private banking with impressive stints at Adam & Company, eight years as Chief Operating Officer for NatWest Group’s private bank, and most recently as senior banker for Barclays Private Bank & Wealth Management across Scotland and Northern Ireland. He’s also a chartered member of the Chartered Banker Institute and holds the rather distinguished position of being a longstanding member of the Royal Company of Archers, serving as the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland.

But here’s where it gets really interesting for those of us in the whisky world. Ed is co-founder of Woven Whisky, an award-winning operation based in Leith that’s been doing some genuinely innovative work. They’re bringing together whiskies from around the globe in their local studio to craft new blends, including what they claim is the world’s first 100% English blended whisky. They’ve also ventured into hybrid territory with a coffee spirit that marries traditional Scotch with cold brew coffee – certainly not your grandfather’s dram.

This hire is part of Weatherbys’ ambitious plan to double in size over the next five years. Ed becomes their third banking recruit this year and the fifth private banker in their Edinburgh office, with more appointments in the pipeline. Deputy Head of Private Clients Duncan Gourlay seems particularly chuffed about landing someone who combines such extensive banking experience with genuine entrepreneurial spirit in the whisky sector.