IMW loses education manager

Peter Csizmadia-Honigh is leaving his role as education manager for the Institute of Masters of Wine with a plan to write the first book on Indian wine.

During his nine years with the IMW, Hungarian Csizmadia-Honigh played a major role in advancing the organisation’s wider global strategy. Under his management of the IMW study programme, student numbers increased by nearly 60%, with candidates now coming from 36 countries.

Having trained as an economist and teacher, Csizmadia-Honigh introduced a series of initiatives to enhance the Institute’s self-study programme, as well as developing industry partnerships with a number of generic bodies, research institutions and wine businesses.

Looking back on “an extremely exciting nine years” he stressed his “admiration and respect for all members of the IMW community”, adding: “I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to play a role in developing and enhancing the study programme and the examination.”

Thanking Csizmadia-Honigh, Jean-Michel Valette MW, chairman of the IMW, said: “Peter’s contribution over the past nine years has transformed the Institute’s study programme and examination significantly. His tireless work and dedication to development and improvement has benefited our students, Members and the wider IMW community.”

Last month Csizmadia-Honigh was named as winner of the Geoffrey Roberts Award 2014, a £4,000 bursary from the Vintners’ Company to support his ambition to write a book on India’s wine industry.

The IMW is now in the process of looking for a successor to the role of education manager for its study programme.