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John Osborne to take control of PLB in the new year

Published:  30 September, 2013

John Osborne, sales director at wine agency PLB, is to take over as the company's new managing director in January when Peter Darbyshire steps down.

The move marks a significant change to PLB's senior management team following founder and former chairman, Jeffrey Fredericks, handing the executive chairmanship role to his son, Simon. Darbyshire is to remain on the company's board as non-executive director.

As well as changes to its management team, PLB has also restructured the way the business works and split its teams to cover the main channels of the industry: on-trade; wholesale; convenience; retail; and a new beer and RTD divison.

Darbyshire said: "When I arrived at PLB back in 2007, Robert Joseph's description of PLB as 'a large supplier of wine to the major multiples' was very valid. Nowadays, PLB is a very different beast, our business model has evolved and the perception of PLB amongst the trade is very different."

John Osborne

He was confident his successor would do an "excellent job" thanks to his "experience and in-depth knowledge of PLB" and "great respect he has within PLB and amongst the wider trade".

Osborne said of his new role: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead this team of talented people in such a great business. Peter led us through the transition from agency to full service provider that leaves us so well placed in the market."

He added: "The market place is continuing to change and evolve and I am excited about the opportunities that offer us to be flexible, fleet of foot and innovative. We have a clear vision of where we want to go and how we will get there."

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