WSTA welcomes new chair of the board
Caroline Thompson-Hill, head of beers, wines and spirits at retailer Marks & Spencer, has been appointed chair of the board of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).
Thompson-Hill is the first chair of the WSTA executive board from a multiple retailer.
Her career spans roles at Diageo and Treasury Wine Estates, working across Europe and the Americas, and also leading Accolade Wines in Europe as managing director.
Thompson-Hill takes over the chair position from Mark Riley, of Edrington UK, following his two terms as chair.
During her first board meeting last week, Thompson-Hill promised to continue recent work in response to the evolving and challenging commercial and political climate.
“It is a privilege to be appointed chair of the WSTA board and I look forward to working with the team to deliver the best service possible to our members,” Thompson-Hill said. “I am eager to get to grips with the WSTA’s many workstreams to ensure that we prioritise effectively as we enter into a new year.
“I hope to continue to work with a board of committed and experienced leaders to bring fresh ideas and to support the WSTA’s team to help create a better trading environment for our industry.”
Miles Beale, chief executive of the WSTA, welcomed Thompson-Hill to the board.
He added: “We warmly welcome Caroline to the chair, and feel lucky to have an informed, experienced and pragmatic drinks industry expert in the role at a vital time. She has a passion for the wine and spirit sector, and I know that her thoughtful approach to leadership will be a huge asset to the WSTA and its members.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mark Riley for being such a collegiate and effective chair, and for his constructive and practical approach to leading the board over three challenging years.”
As the UK’s autumn Budget nears next week, the WSTA has been among organisations pleading for a spirits duty freeze to support businesses across the wine and spirits sectors.
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