News

Michael Saunders resigns from C&C Group

10 August 2023 By Jessica Mason

C&C Group’s head of agency partnerships Michael Saunders has handed in his resignation and will leave the company at the end of the year.

Saunders, who joined Bibendum in 1982 and worked his way up to become CEO of the company, will end his employment with C&C Group in January.

Speaking exclusively to the drinks business, C&C group CEO Paddy McMahon said: “Michael Saunders, head of agency partnerships, and formerly CEO of Bibendum Wine, has decided to leave the C&C Group in January 2024.”

C&C Group, the owner of Bulmer’s, Tennents and Magner’s brands, acquired both Matthew Clark and Bibendum from troubled wine retailer Conviviality in 2018.

McMahon told db: “I would like to thank Michael for his tremendous contribution to C&C Group and wish him well in his new ventures.”

The news coincides with Bibendum Wine revealing that it has appointed Valeria Rodriguez as its head of fine wine. The company has stated that Rodriguez will be managing relationships with Bibendum’s fine wine customers and driving new business strategy, as well as supporting the development and evolution of the fine wine range alongside the buying team”.

C&C Group recently revealed that, despite a “challenging” trading backdrop, its core brands have continued to grow. In an update for the financial year ended 28 February 2023, the drinks distributor and manufacturer forecast net revenues of approximately €1,685m (£1,489m), with volumes expected to be up 4%.