FDBusiness.com

Accolade Wines has announced a change in management structure in the European side of its business, a move that is designed help the fifth biggest global wine company and the number one in the UK and Australia to drive its growth and profitability.

The business has taken the decision to split the existing role of European commercial general manager into two separate ones covering Mainland Europe and UK & Ireland, to help generate better focus on each of these two crucial markets.

Troy Christensen, chief executive of Accolade Wines, explains: “The two markets  operate at different levels of maturity as far as our offer is concerned. There is significant scope within Mainland Europe to grow our business – especially in Eastern Europe and across Scandinavia. Creating these two new roles will give both markets the focus that they deserve, something that will benefit Accolade Wines in the long-term.”

The new role of commercial general manager Mainland Europe will be taken up by Ted Popov, formerly sales director Mainland Europe.

Paul Schaafsma, currently general manager UK & Ireland of Australian Vintage will take on the new role of commercial general manager UK & Ireland from 3 September.

James Lousada, who previously had the overall European role was given the opportunity of taking on the new UK & Ireland brief, but has taken the diffficult decision to leave the business.

“We need the dual focus to ensure that we can act with greater pace and flexibility at this challenging time for the wine industry. Accolade Wines UK is the engine room of the global business,” adds Troy Christensen. “The Mainland Europe market on the other hand is fast growing, with new opportunities emerging all of the time.”