Greg Pullen (pictured), the general manager of fine wine merchants Samuel Smith & Son in NSW, will retire on 30 June, following almost 30 years of service to the family-owned company.
A key player within the fine wine distribution industry, Pullen joined Samuel Smith & Son's Victorian team in December 1986 as sales manager, before being promoted to Victorian state manager in 1988.
He moved to Sydney to take on the state manager role there in 1992 and in 1998 was tasked with overseeing the Samuel Smith & Son business at a national level.
Succession planning saw Pullen step back into the role of general manager of the NSW branch in 2012.
Samuel Smith & Son owner Robert Hill-Smith made the announcement to staff on Friday, paying tribute to his friend and colleague of three decades.
“Greg has been a successful and unswervingly loyal contributor through his various senior roles in the Samuel Smith & Son commercial network,” Hill-Smith said.
“Whatever Pullen does, he will do it well. We shall miss him greatly. Greg has been a fabulous and tireless ambassador for our company and made friends at all levels of the wine trade.
“He has many stories to relate from his days in the trade and also on tour with them. He locked horns with the best of them on negotiations based on principle and came out smiling.”
Pullen’s contribution to the culture and success of Samuel Smith & Son was recognised alongside that of former QLD State Manager Jeff Smith when both were announced as Signatories of the 2005 vintage.
Each vintage release of Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz acknowledges the skills and dedicated service of people close to the Hill-Smith family.
An avid traveller, connoisseur of food and wine, rugby union fan and honorary vice president of Bondi Icebergs, Pullen thanked the Hill-Smith family for the opportunities afforded to him during his tenure.
“The highlights have been the opportunity to travel the world and also to work with so many fantastic independent retailers,” said Pullen, who is known throughout the industry as a vocal champion of independents.
“During my career I have seen the absolute best of the wine industry. I’m now greatly concerned about the shrinkage of independent ownership within the wine sector.”