The Winemaker’s Federation of Australia (WFA) has announced the appointment of Bruce Kemp to the position of president, effective immediately.
Kemp is CEO of Global Wine Advice and chairman of Pipers Brook Vineyards and Anthony Smith & Associates, a producer of synthetic corks and capsules. He is also a former WFA board member.
Kemp said he was honoured to take on the position at what he described as a time of great challenge for the Australian wine industry.
“The Australian wine industry has become a global leader in a very short period of time, and with that rapid change has come a range of challenges that must be addressed with considerable urgency,” he said.
“The industry’s oversupply, policy risks associated with growing community and government concerns about binge drinking and better integration of our key industry bodies will be priorities during my term.”
Kemp will serve as president until December 2010. He takes over from Pernod Ricard’s Philip Laffer, who stood in as interim president following the resignation last year of David Clarke due to health concerns.