IMW elects new chairman

The Institute of Masters of Wine has announced that Jane Masters MW has been elected as its new chairman.

Masters, who became a master of wine in 1997 and is an international winemaking consultant, takes over from Sarah Jane Evans MW as the 53^rd chairman of the IMW.

She said: “It is an honour to serve as chairman of the IMW at this particularly exciting stage in our history. Our Membership now has over 350 Masters of Wine across the world, demand for the MW Study Programme is higher than ever before and we have strong relationships with our supporters, proving our relevance to the wine trade at all levels.

“In 2017 we will move into a new headquarters in London and in June 2018 the IMW 9th International Symposium will take place in Logroño, Spain.

“Both of these key events will allow us to build on our successes and develop the Institute further in promoting excellence, interaction and learning across all sectors in the global wine community.”

Masters trained as a winemaker at the Institute of Oenology in Bordeaux. After five years in France she worked for Marks and Spencer’s for 13 years where she rose to manage the Wine and Drinks category.

In 2005 she set up her own consultancy business, Mastering Wine, and works with clients on wine business strategy, quality evaluation and improvement, product development and sourcing and communications.

In addition to Masters’ new position, Adrian Garforth MW has been elected vice-chairman of the IMW. After holding senior operational and commercial roles at Diageo and spending time in South Africa, Garforth has run his own consultancy business since 2003 – principally working with New World wineries to help them export market development.