Wine company aiming global

Hawke's Bay's Sacred Hill Winery has bolstered its management team as it expands its drive into the international market.

Four senior appointments have been made to the winery's recently launched sales and distribution company, Sacred Hill Wine Company Ltd, which was launched on July 1 to drive sales and distribution of its wine portfolio into national and international markets.

Glenn Cunningham, who has a background of export-related roles, has taken up the post of global sales and marketing director.

Mr Cunningham joins from Constellation, where he was export market development director. He previously founded Fresh Fruit Company of New Zealand Ltd (FreshCo) and has an extensive career in sales and marketing for New Zealand food and wine exports.

Murray Burgess will lead the company's sales team as national sales manager. He has worked extensively in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector and his most recent role was as national key account manager for Coca Cola, working with Progressive Enterprises. He also spent eight years in the UK and Australia, working with large brands including Marks & Spencer and Coca Cola Amatil.

Emiliano Parini has been appointed national key accounts manager and also has an extensive career in the FMCG sector.

Mr Parini had been with Villa Maria Estate, where he was the national key account manager working with Progressive Enterprises and Foodstuffs South Island. He has also worked with Mars New Zealand, Penguin Wholesalers and Europacific Foods.

Dale Wright has been appointed fine wine and on premise director. He had previously worked as an on-premise manager for Negociants New Zealand, and also held sales roles at James Gilmour & Co Ltd and Glengarry Hancocks.

Sacred Hill Vineyard's managing director David Mason said the company was excited to welcome the four new senior members to the "Sacred Hill family".

"These roles are pivotal to the ongoing success and growth of our business and we look forward to further growing our domestic market and exploring international growth opportunities," he said, adding the four were the first of a "number" of new appointments the company would be making over the next few months.