– UK, Appledore – Gusbourne Plc (AIM: GUS) is pleased to announce the appointment of three new board directors with immediate effect.
Mike Paul has joined the board as Deputy Chairman and will work closely with Andrew Weeber in his role as Chairman. Mike will also head up the sales and marketing function of the business and help further develop the distribution of Gusbourne’s premium sparkling wines both in the UK and in additional overseas markets as the Company’s production volumes increase over the coming years.
Mike has worked in the wine industry for over thirty years. Having received a postgraduate Diploma in Business Studies, he became the Managing Director of the premium wine agency Percy Fox, representing a number of luxury wine brands. In 1990 Mike became European Director responsible for the development of Southcorp’s business in Europe. He led Southcorp to become a major player in the UK wine market with brands such as Penfolds and Lindemans. In 2002 Mike was appointed Managing Director of Western Wines (UK), a leading importer of South African, Chilean and Italian wines, and established the South African brand, Kumala, and Chilean wine Cono Sur.
Charlie Holland, who has been head of wine making at Gusbourne for over three years, has joined the board as Chief Winemaker and Chief Executive Officer. He will remain responsible for winemaking at Gusbourne but also represent the Company as its Chief Executive Officer and manage the day to day running of the business in conjunction with Jon Pollard and other members of the executive team in what remains a highly collaborative and relatively flat organisation.
Charlie holds a degree in marketing and a BSc in Viticulture and Oenology from Plumpton College. He has held a number of overseas wine making positions including in France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and California. Prior to joining Gusbourne Estate Charlie was winemaker for four years at Ridgeview, a well-known English sparkling wine producer.
Jon Pollard has been the vineyard manager at the Gusbourne Estate since the first vines were planted twelve years ago in 2004. He joins the board as Chief Vineyard Manager and Chief Operating Officer. He will continue to be responsible for Gusbourne’s vineyards and work closely with Charlie Holland on the day to day operations of the business.
Jon holds an honours degree in general agriculture from the University of Aberdeen and is also a graduate in wine studies from Plumpton College. He has worked closely with Andrew Weeber over the past twelve years to establish the vineyards which are widely regarded as some of the best in the country in terms of both grape quality and yield. Jon supervises the vineyard operations in both Kent and West Sussex and works closely with the Chief Winemaker to ensure the quality and consistency of the final product.
Commenting on the board appointments, Andrew Weeber, Chairman, said “I am delighted to welcome Mike, Charlie and Jon to the board of Gusbourne. Each of them bring their strong professional skills and experience with them and their appointments will ensure that all key functional areas of the business are represented on the board. Gusbourne remains committed to the production and distribution of the highest quality English sparkling wines and the new appointments reinforce our commitment to that end”.
About Gusbourne PLC
Gusbourne PLC is engaged, through its wholly owned subsidiary Gusbourne Estate Limited (together the “Group”), in the production and distribution of a range of high quality and award winning English sparkling wines from grapes grown in its own vineyards in Kent and West Sussex. The majority of the Group’s mature vineyards are located at its freehold estate at Appledore in Kent where the winery is also based. The Group has a total of 231 acres of vineyards.
For more information, visit www.gusbourneplc.com
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