Paul Schaafsma to head Accolade Wines

Accolade Wines has promoted its general manager of the UK and Ireland, Paul Schaafsma, to the position of chief executive officer, succeeding John Ratcliffe who will become deputy chairman.

Paul Schaafsma, new CEO of Accolade WinesSchaafsma has headed up the largest division of Accolade Wines, the UK and Ireland region, for the past three years. During that time the market share of Accolade Wines in the UK has grown over 70% and Hardys, the leading wine brand in the UK on trade and off trade, has increased its market share by almost 16%.

Prior to joining Accolade Wines, Paul was the driving force behind McGuigan Wines becoming a market leader across the UK and Ireland while he was general manager of Australian Vintage in that region.

Schaafsma takes over from John Ratcliffe, who will become non-executive deputy chairman of the company and will continue to advise on the strategic development of the company, while pursing other business activities.

Accolade Wines currently distributes 35million cases of wine across in 143 countries, totalling AUS$1 billion in sales annually. Following its recent acquisition of Chile’s Viña Anakena, Accolade Wines is now the only wine company with a presence in all the major New World wine regions.

Schaafsma will take up his appointment on 1 October.