Coravin Asia announces change in management

Coravin’s APAC marketing director, Sanam Thakur has been promoted to APAC managing director, following the departure of Christian Pillsbury who will move back to the US to pursue personal projects.

Sanam Thakur

Christian Pillsbury joined Coravin 18 months ago and launched the Asia office in Hong Kong in November 2015 as part of the group’s international expansion strategy.

With 18 years in the international wine trade, he had previously spearheaded DFS Group’s wine business in Hong Kong, and since his time with Coravin has done an “amazing job” in leading Coravin’s strategy in Asia, said Coravin’s CEO, Frédéric Levy.

In August 2016, Pillsbury appointed Sanam Thakur as director of marketing for Asia Pacific and this month, announced his departure from Coravin in order to pursue personal projects back in the US, his home country.

Before joining Coravin, Thakur had worked with Pillsbury at DFS Group and headed up its marketing team in Hong Kong where she oversaw marketing campaigns for over 250 luxury brands, including Cartier, Tiffany and Estée Lauder.

Commenting on Thakur’s new role, Pillsbury said: “Sanam is the natural choice to take over my position.

“In her tenure so far as Coravin’s director of marketing, Asia Pacific, she has revolutionized our ability to communicate with both partners and consumers.

“I am confident that Sanam’s energy, ambition and common sense approach to partnerships will define 2017 as our best year yet.  I will continue to support Sanam and the Coravin team in whatever capacity I am needed from my new base in the United States.”

Thakur added: “Coravin has truly transformed people’s wine drinking habits and experiences.

“I am excited to help extend this experience to a new and diverse group of consumers across Asia Pacific.”

Christian Pillsbury