Wines of Great Britain (WineGB) has unveiled its latest appointment, Nicola Bates, as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. The selection of Bates, who previously served as the Strategy Director at the Portman Group, comes as part of WineGB’s ongoing efforts to reinforce its leadership team.
Bates is set to assume her role as CEO on October 30, 2023, following the departure of the former Chief Executive, Simon Thorpe MW, earlier this year. Her appointment marks a significant milestone as she becomes WineGB’s first female CEO, contributing to a growing cohort of women in leadership roles within the association. Sam Linter will continue in her capacity as the Chair of WineGB.
In response to Bates’ appointment, Linter expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I am delighted to appoint Nicola as the new CEO of WineGB. The WineGB Board were looking for a specific set of skills and experience that are required to deliver success for the organisation and industry as we enter a new phase of maturity. During an extensive recruitment process, Nicola demonstrated the experience and diverse skillset required to run a growing trade association with a rapidly increasing external focus.”
Linter also mentioned plans for an immersive onboarding process to familiarize Bates with the UK wine industry’s intricacies and the strategic priorities of both the organization and the industry as a whole. The appointment reflects WineGB’s commitment to cultivating strategic leadership during a transformative phase for the UK’s wine sector.
