David Pitt will take over as CEO of the McWilliam’s Wines Group on 23 July, replacing Jeff McWilliam.
Jeff took up the position of CEO under recommendation from the McWilliam’s Wines Board in 2015. This was designed as an interim solution for the company and Jeff has been “incremental” in handling the transitional phase of the company with great success, the media release says.
“I have been incredibly proud to be at the helm of our family business in a time that has been one of the most challenging and rewarding of my career,” Jeff says.
“For the last three years I have seen great change and development of this company and it has been such a coup to work with a passionate group of employees dedicated to maintaining McWilliam’s Wines Group as one of the major wine families in Australia.”
Board chairman Jim Brayne said, “The McWilliam’s Board wanted to find a candidate who has been involved in industries with a synergy to wine and who could understand the agricultural element of its business as well as possessing expertise from both a commercial and operational standpoint,”
“David has all the credentials the family and board were looking for to lead the business in this exciting new chapter, I look forward to supporting David from the board and seeing where he can take McWilliam’s over the coming years.”
David comes from an established hospitality background with his family owning a number of hotels and pubs in Queensland and the Northern Territory. He started his career in the liquor industry in sales at Lion during a time that they established Fine Wine Partners.
He has had a varied and successful career within some of FMCG’s biggest multinational corporations including Campbells Arnott’s and Red Bull.
Most recently, David has held both the sales director and general banager roles for Parmalat Australia, one of the country’s largest dairy organisations.
“I’m extremely pleased to be joining such an iconic Australian family owned organisation in the McWilliam’s Wines Group. I have a long and proud history in the liquor industry and to be returning at the helm of such an icon is a challenge I’m excited to be taking on,” David said.
Jeff McWilliam will remain a member of the McWilliam’s board and will continue to be involved with external industry bodies that require representation from the family.
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