Wine importer and producer Boutinot has announced a series of major changes to its leadership structure, including the appointment of David Sefton as managing director.
Succeeding Dennis Whiteley, the business said that Sefton joined Boutinot’s leadership team full-time on 1 September.
It continued that the new MD took an untraditional route into the wine business, first starting a record label in the 1990s before becoming MD at a law firm at 31. More recently, Sefton became the co-founder of one of the world’s leading pre-clinical Parkinson’s research businesses.
Simultaneously, Sefton has held a close relationship with Boutinot, having been part of the general counsel for over 12 years and serving as a board director for the last five.
On the appointment, Whiteley said: “Over the twelve years that I have known David Sefton, I have grown to admire and respect his straight talking, intelligence, commercial acumen and humanity.
“He understands how Boutinot works, has a clear idea of how it should operate going forward. He has been on our board of directors for the past five years and is someone I trust implicitly.
“I have absolute faith and confidence that he is the right person to lead Boutinot forward in the next chapter of our journey together.”
At the same time, Boutinot announced three other new additions to its senior leadership team. Within this, Alex Gittins becomes head of product, taking responsibility for the Product Division.
Tom Whiteley becomes head of marketing, progressing from his role as commercial director for Henners. He takes the role from Deborah Brooks.
Finally, David Lenti, currently head of Asia, becomes head of Boutinot International, succeeding Jenny Davies.
On this, Whiteley said: “Changes can often be unnerving, but there is also massive continuity. We have a strong period of transition and a fantastic group of people ready to take Boutinot forward.
“I feel able to make these changes because of the ongoing and consistent support of our leadership team and colleagues, to whom I owe a great deal of gratitude for their commitment and their shared passion for Boutinot.”
