Starward has announced the appointment of a new CEO as the Port Melbourne-based distillery looks to embark on its next phase of growth, under the stewardship of for Global CMO at Treasury Wine Estates, Simon Marton.
Thanks to a multi-million dollar investment Starward has said it is planning to significantly expand production capacity in early 2020, which will help meet the demand driven by its expansion into new markets around the world.
Over the last year Starward has expanded globally, launching in the UK, USA, France, and Japan and the new appointments, expansion plans and further market expansion will fuel the distillery’s next phase of growth.
Marton will oversee the expansion plans after former CEO Andrew Macdonald stepped aside to enable Starward to bring in a new leader who will take the company to the next level.
Marton, who has over 20 years’ experience in wine and spirits, said: “Starward is a brand I have admired for its innovative and unconventional strategy.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to propel Starward to be the first globally famous Australian Whisky brand, especially at such a pivotal time when the Australian spirits category is going from strength to strength both in the domestic and international markets.”
Founder David Vitalie said he excited about the expansion plans for the distillery and in welcoming Marton to the team also thanks Macdonald for the work he has done in his time as CEO.
“It’s hard to believe it was just three years ago we completed our monumental upgrade from Essendon Fields to Port Melbourne,” Vitalie said.
“Now, we are once again taking a huge leap to meet the rapidly growing, local and global, demand for our whiskies – particularly Two-Fold which has exceeded all of our sales expectations in our first year, winning Best Australian Blended at the World Whiskies Awards in London and 92 points from Wine Enthusiast and Whisky Cast in the US.”
He added: “Andrew has been instrumental in establishing the platform for Starward’s growth over the last five years. That commitment and leadership positions us today in the best possible place to take our whisky to the world.
“We’re all looking forward to working with Simon to pursue Starward’s potential in Australia and abroad. We have every reason to believe that our Starward bound ambition is in the right hands.”