By Andrew Starke
Treasury Wine Estates, the wine division of the Foster’s Group, has finalised a restructure across its wine business and announced a number of key appointments.
Three new business units have been created, one to focus on the key markets in mainland Europe, one to focus on the specific needs of the Nordic Monopolies and one to focus on the UK and Ireland.
“This restructure will bring our marketing and commercial teams together into one focused business and will ensure that our customers and consumers have a dedicated approach in each of our key markets,” said Treasury Wine Estates MD, Peter Jackson.
Each of the three business units will be headed up by a general manager.
Dan Townsend, formerly managing director for Maison Louis Latour, has been appointed to the position of general manager for UK & Ireland; Calum Grant-Wood will lead the new Continental Europe business unit; and the business unit in the Nordics will be headed up by Jonas Hillergren.
Townsend has been responsible for the UK region for Louis Latour Agencies since 2007 and prior to joining LLA spent six years at Constellation Europe where he held a number of senior positions.
He will take up his new position as Treasury Wine Estates GM for UK and Ireland on January 4, 2011.
Grant-Wood has has been with Foster’s wine business for nine years and has previously held the position of regional manager – southern Europe.
Hillergren joined the company in 2007 and previously held the position of regional manager – Nordic markets.
This restructure has resulted in some senior personnel departing the business.
These include Richard Trimby, marketing director EMEA, Neil Barker, commercial director UK and Ireland and Stuart Pickles, commercial director – Continental Europe.
“Richard, Neil and Stuart have been instrumental in growing our business and ensuring that our portfolio of brands have maintained a strong-hold over our key markets,” said Jackson.
“This restructure hasn’t been taken lightly but I believe that our new structure will take our business and brands onto a whole new level.”