Wines of South Africa appoints new chief executive

By Emily Kearns, Lucy Britner

Published: 19 September, 2013

Wines of South Africa (WOSA) has announced the appointment of former Distell global head of marketing Siobhan Thompson as chief executive, who will succeed Su Birch from November.

Birch will stay until the end of the year to ensure a smooth handover, before moving into the private sector, after 13 years as WOSA chief executive.

Thompson has been Distell's global head of marketing for Amarula and the company's other liqueur brands since 2010.

She was previously Distell's group general marketing manager for brandies and Cognac, including Bisquit. She also worked for several years marketing the company's sparkling wines and was responsible for the launch of the luxury Pongracz Desiderius Cap Classique. Before joining Distell in 2001, she was responsible for the UCT Graduate School of Business marketing and public relations.

WOSA chairman Johann Krige said the organisation was looking forward to having someone of Thompson's global marketing calibre and experience at the helm to further the significant contribution made by Birch.

He said: "She is a highly respected, results-orientated, marketing professional. Her seasoned exposure to traditional and developing markets and her conversancy with the alcohol category inspire great confidence. We look forward to her leadership in taking South African wine to the next exciting phase of its development in the international arena."

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