Sector · Wines, spirits and fine drinks
Executive search for wines, spirits and premium drinks.
Board, CEO and C-suite search for wine, spirits, champagne and fine-drinks businesses across family ownership, global groups and investment-backed growth.
The market in view
Fine drinks businesses balance agriculture, production, provenance, brand, distribution and increasingly direct client relationships. Leadership must understand long time horizons and regulated routes to market while responding to changing occasions, categories and consumer expectations.
Clients and ownership contexts
Global drinks groups, family-owned wine and spirits businesses, maisons, distributors, specialist retailers, hospitality platforms and investor-backed premium brands.
Appointments we lead
- Chief executive, president and managing director
- Board, chair and non-executive director
- Commercial, route-to-market and distribution leadership
- Brand, marketing and communications
- Operations, production, supply chain and procurement
- Finance, people, digital and direct-to-consumer leadership
What separates a credible candidate
We assess stewardship as well as growth: the ability to protect provenance, manage complex channels, work with family or group ownership and build relevance across markets without sacrificing long-term brand value.
Questions shaping the search
- Does the business require a category insider or adjacent luxury leader?
- How should direct-to-consumer complement distribution?
- What leadership will support family or ownership succession?
- Where can premiumisation create genuine value?
Defining this mandate
Define the category, ownership and route to market. A producer, distributor and consumer brand can require different commercial and operating leadership, even when the products reach similar customers.
How retained search worksPractical questions
Does the search cover producers and distributors?
A senior brief can concern either, but the responsibilities differ. We establish ownership of production, brand, channels and customer relationships before selecting the research market.
How does family ownership affect the appointment?
Clarify the family’s objectives, time horizon and continuing responsibilities. Assess the candidate’s ability to work with that governance while delivering the agreed business remit.
Can a leader come from another consumer category?
Where their channel and operating experience is relevant. Category-specific requirements and any specialist assessment are agreed before the search begins.
A specialist market deserves a considered search.
Share the context in confidence. We will advise on the brief and the market.
Discuss a leadership hire