Hallgarten Druitt boosts sales and marketing teams

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 29 July, 2014

Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines has recruited a former Mirror journalist to head up its communications team and added an extra national accounts manager.

Hallgarten Chris WilsonFormer journalist turned oenologist Chris Wilson joins HGN as communications manager.

Chris Wilson, who worked as a journalist for 14 years - including three as features editor at mirror.co.uk - then studied oenology at Plumpton, becomes communications manager. Meanwhile Clare Cutler joins as national accounts manager from Free Run Wines.

In 2010 Wilson decided to do a degree in Viticulture and Oenology at Plumpton College in Sussex. Since graduating last year, he has run tastings for corporate clients as well as writing, and arranging events for Cambridge Wine Merchants. He will be responsible for the company's internal and external communications, managing all web and social media content and overseeing press activity alongside the company's PR agency. He will report to marketing director Helen Munday.

Hallgarten Clare CutlerCutler joins HGN from Free Run where she was national accounts manager.

Cutler joins HGN from Free Run where she was national accounts manager.

Cutler has worked at Free Run Wines as national account manager for over three years, charged with looking after a number of clients across the major multiple, specialist and convenience sectors. Prior to this, Cutler worked for 10 years at Thierry's Wine Services. Cutler will work alongside Mark Dennison and Richard Brooks on the multiples team.

"These are key appointments for us and we very much look forward to welcoming Chris and Clare to the company," said managing director Andrew Bewes. "Chris's extensive media experience and wine knowledge and Clare's background of working closely with multiple retailers mean they're great additions to our team, and will help us improve service to all our customers."

Hallgarten Druitt was founded 80 years ago and turns over in excess of £44 million per annum. The firm has a list of over 1,000 wines including Peter Lehmann (Australia), Gerard Bertrand (Languedoc), Marchesi de' Frescobaldi (Tuscany), Michele Chiarlo (Piedmont), Feudi di San Gregorio (Campania), Saint Clair (New Zealand), Hamilton Russell (South Africa), Quady (California), and Carmen (Chile).

Novum Wines, bought by Hallgarten in 2010, was founded less than 10 years ago, and all of its wines are sourced by Steve Daniel.