ASC Fine Wines’ CEO steps down

Bruno Baudry will step down as CEO of ASC Fine Wines by the end of this month, succeeded by Yoshihiko Shibuya effective from 1 April, the wine merchant has announced today. 

Bruno Baudry will step down as ASC CEO on 31 March, 2017

Baudry will stay on as an advisor to the company and its board for a few months to ensure smooth handover, ASC said.

ASC did not elaborate on specific reasons behind this management change but said Baudry made the decision to step down and move back to Japan to be with his family for personal reasons.

“We really want to thank Bruno for his two years’ work as ASC’s CEO. Bruno has been instrumental in reviving ASC’s business over the last two years. We were very satisfied with his leadership and accomplishments and wanted him to stay on as CEO of ASC, but finally had to accept his resignation,” said Yuji Yamazaki, chairman of the board of ASC Fine Wines and president & CEO of Suntory Wines International Limited (SWI), ASC’s parent company.

“It’s been a great pleasure and honour indeed to lead ASC these last two years”, said Bruno. “The Company regained strength and a strong reputation as the leader of the wine industry in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. I want to thank the ASC team for their hard work, dedication and contribution in these two years. I also want to thank our supplier partners, our customers, the media and our shareholders for their strong support to ASC. I wish all ASC’s stakeholders every success and happiness going forward.” Baudry previously worked for Castel Group of France before joining ASC. 

With 20 years’ experience of wine business in the Suntory Group and a strong knowledge of the global wine business, Yoshihiko Shibuya has been based in France for more than five years to manage Suntory’s wine businesses in Europe and relational maintenance with wineries. He recently became a member of board director of ASC.

“I am very excited to have this opportunity to lead ASC”, stated Yoshi, “I strongly believe continuous growth of ASC with support of the ASC Team, our supplier partners and our customers in ever-changing imported wine market in China, Hong Kong and Macau.”

In another management change announcement, Simon Wang will be promoted as the Chief Operating Officer to support Yoshi in his new role. In addition to the current sales and regional office management, he will also take an active role in facilitating overall operational efficiency.