Southern Wine & Spirits South Carolina exec retires

The South Carolina executive vice president of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Tom Collins, will retire next February.

Southern Wine & Spirits of America is the nation’s leading wine and spirits distributor

Collins boasts a 40-year-long career in the spirits industry and joined Southern Wine & Spirits of South Carolina in 1993 as vice president, general sales manager.

He was then promoted to executive vice president, general manager in 2007, and will continue to support the firm as a consultant on legislative matters in South Carolina following his retirement on 1 February 2016.

“It ahs truly been an invaluable experience working at Southern and with the Chaplin family,” said Collins. “I’m honoured to have spent much of my professional career with Southern and know that the company has a wonderful future ahead in the state of South Carolina.”

Steve Baker, current vice president, general sales manager for Southern Wine & Spirits South Carolina, will succeed Collins.

Baker has worked with Southern Wine & Spirits South Carolina for 22 years in roles including looking after the company’s business in Hilton Head, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Colombia areas before taking up his current position.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to Tom for his dedication to the industry and commitment to his colleagues, team members, and the many suppliers and customers in South Carolina,” said Harvey R. Chaplin, Southern’s chairman.

“As a founding member of the South Carolina team, Tom was instrumental in laying the foundation for Southern’s continued success in the market. We wish him the very best in retirement.”