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The new umbrella body for the South African wine and brandy industry, SA Wine, has had its inaugural board meeting and announced its new CEO. This ushers in a new era for the South African wine industry where the amendment in industry support structures will bring about much-needed improved collaboration and therefore added impact, as well as a more aligned and focussed approach which will make this industry more resilient, profitable and sustainable.
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The Vinpro and SALBA boards, as founding members of SA Wine, appointed five producer directors and five brand owner directors to serve on the board as per the Memorandum of Incorporation. They are Antoinette Vermooten, Anton Smuts, Boyce Lloyd (representing brandy), Sakkie du Toit, James Reid, Mohseen Moosa, Phillip Retief, Rydal Jeftha, Vivian Kleynhans and Wessel de Wet. Ronald Ramabulana was appointed as an independent board member and elected as chairperson of the board.
Khumbuzile Mosoma from the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) will be an observer.
“SA Wine gives us an opportunity to grow an inclusive wine industry,” says Ramabulana. “I am extremely excited about growing the profitability of companies in the wine value chain. I look forward to working with the board and our new CEO, as well as all other role-players in the wine industry.”
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The board appointed Rico Basson, currently Vinpro MD, as the CEO of SA Wine. He will commence his new role on 1 June 2023. “I am extremely excited about the formation of SA Wine and the journey ahead, and I look forward to taking the wine and brandy industry to the next level with the help of the rest of the SA Wine team,” says Basson.
The recruitment process for other new executive roles is well underway. These roles are expected to commence employment, together with the staff transfer to SA Wine, in July 2023. – Press release, Vinpro and SALBA
