Was there ever anybody better at selling himself than Chris Carson? If ours had been a job interview I'd have given him the job. In fact, I'd probably have given him my job. It says a lot for the resilience of the Sands family of Constellation that they're still in charge.
Christopher Carson
Born: August 1947
Educated: Parkside Preparatory School, Surrey; Bedstone School, Shropshire; Hendon College
1965-67: Chef at Savoy Hotel, London
1968: Joined Edouard Robinson
1972: Edouard Robinson taken over by Reckitt & Colman, which became R&C Vintners
1976: Became sales director
1980: Joined Italvin, which became European Vintners
1983: Joined Enotria as sales and marketing director
1990: Joined Whiclar & Gordon (Hardy Wine Company) as sales and marketing director, with 15% equity
1991: Made MD
1992: Hardy Wine Co bought by BRL, and BRL Hardy formed
1994: Made MD of BRL Hardy Europe Ltd
2003: Company bought by Constellation Brands; Carson is made MD/CEO, and later CEO Constellation Europe Ltd
Interests outside wine: Family, religion, cricket, golf, rugby
Ambitions: Spending more time with the family; business-wise, for Constellation to have 20% of the UK wine business (currently it has about 17%)