Waitrose makes three new appointments amid reshuffle of BWS team

Upmarket UK retailer Waitrose has shuffled around its BWS team, appointing a new buying manager for wine and two new buyers, following the departure of three of the team.

Jamie Matthewson (left), who has been at the retailer for nine years, has joined the BWS team as the new buying manager for wine. He was previously a buying manager for beers, cider, spirits, soft drinks and tobacco between 2016-18, and spent four years as a commercial manager. His most recent role was as a subject matter expert, commercial operating model before rejoining the BWS team, where he will also look after fortified and sweet wines.

He replaces James Bone, who has moved to another area of the business.

The retailer also confirmed that long-serving and highly respected wine buyer Nick Room, who was responsible for buying wines across Spain, Portugal, Burgundy, Fortified and Sweet Wines has retired after twenty-five years as a buyer, with his role being filled by Adam Kennedy. Kennedy has been at Waitrose since 2008, working in a variety of roles and assumes responsibility for the Americas and Iberia. Marien Rodriquez has also joined the team with responsibility for England & Wales, small bottles and alternative formats.

Maria Elener, who bought for Italy, Rhône, Eastern Europe, Austria and ‘other’ world wines, has also left the company, Waitrose confirmed.

The rest of the team remain the same, although some of their regions of responsibility have changed following the departure of Room and Elener.

Waitrose Wine Cellar’s resident MW Xenia Irwin will add Hospitality to her existing responsibilities for the online site and Germany, while Victoria Mason will buy for Italy and South Africa. Daphne Teremetz, who joined Waitrose from Spar in 2016, will be responsible for France with Alexandra Mawson adding Austria to her existing line-up of Australia and New Zealand. Finally, Rebecca Hull MW will add rosé to her existing responsibilities for sparkling wine and Champagne.