News

Chapel Down CEO appointed director of WineGB board

28 July 2022 By Eloise Feilden

WineGB has appointed three new directors to the Board, including Chapel Down CEO Andrew Carter, who will represent producers with over 15 hectares of vines.

Andrew Carter, CEO of Chapel Down, is joined by Fox & Fox co-owner Jonica Fox, and Rachel Collins, a lawyer and currently general counsel at Nyetimber, making up the three new members of the WineGB board of directors.

The Chapel Down chief executive is one of three Group B directors representing the larger producers with over 15ha. Fox has been appointed to the position of Group A director, as a voice for growers and producers with less than 15ha.

Carter said of his appointment: “I’m delighted to be joining the board of WineGB during this exciting phase of growth for the English wine market and look forward to supporting the development of the future direction of the industry and the legislative and fiscal framework in which we operate.”

Prior to joining Chapel Down, Carter was managing director of Chase Distillery. He has previously held leadership roles in drinks companies including Bacardi, Treasury Wine Estates and Bulmers across multiple international markets.

The appointment of Carter and Fox follows the retirement from the board of Bruce Tindale (High Clandon Vineyard) and Frazer Thompson (Chapel Down) as Group A and Group B Directors respectively, both having joined the Board when WineGB was formed in 2017.

Fox has nearly twenty years’ experience as a grower and producer selling wines both in the UK and in selected export markets. She is co-owner of Fox & Fox in East Sussex, having planted their first vineyard in 2004.

A further appointment to the Board is Rachel Collins, a UK qualified lawyer of 15 years, specialising in the luxury goods industry. She currently acts as general counsel at Nyetimber.

Commenting on her appointment to the WineGB Board, Collins said: “It’s a very exciting time for English wine and I’m delighted to be joining the organisation as it navigates ways to support and represent this great British industry.”

The full list of directors includes Sam Linter, managing director of Bolney Wine Estate, as chair, and Nick Wenman – Group A director and vice-chair, founder and owner of Albury Organic Vineyard in the Surrey Hills, along with seven other members.

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