MCD FIRES JOHN SMITHER

Published: 23 July, 2008

Mystery surrounds a Marne & Champagne Diffusion (MCD) (UK) announcement that it has terminated' John Smither's position and responsibilities with the company, as of 22 July 2002. According to MCD, Smither, the company's former UK managing director and latterly an ambassador and consultant, was asked to leave, as he was believed to have joined The Historic Wine Company as a non-executive director'. Smither told Harpers that he was certainly not' taking a position with MCD's rival, a statement backed by David Thornhill, commercial director at The Historic Wine Company. This is totally untrue. Mr Smither does not work for this company and neither has he done so in the past,' said Thornhill. Peter Ferguson, MCD's commercial and marketing director, said: We are pretty sure of our facts; we have documentation and the matter is with the lawyers.' Ian Kirby, representing MCD, confirmed this: MCD was anonymously sent the business plan for The Historic Wine Company and John Smither is clearly named as a non-executive director.' Smither, who retired from his full-time consultancy in March, said he was still expecting to be involved with MCD until at least the end of the year. I have been an ambassador for Champagne Lanson for 28 years and have a lifetime of goodwill in the trade. For it to end in this way is very sad,' he said.

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