Wines of South Africa (WoSA) has announced it is overhauling its UK operation, with two long-standing and well-liked staff members set to be made redundant as part of a wider restructure.

The organisation confirmed that Jo Wehring, market manager for the UK & Europe, and Claudia Pritchard, PR & digital manager, will both soon be leaving the business where they have worked for a combined total of 19 years.

The move marks a wider structural reset at the generic body, which represents South Africa’s wine industry globally. From 1 June, it will begin its transition to a streamlined UK structure centred around a single country manager who is yet to be confirmed.

The restructure comes at a time when generic bodies are under increasing pressure to demonstrate clear ROI in mature markets such as the UK, with tighter budgets prompting moves towards leaner operations.

CEO Siobhan Thompson said: “We would like to sincerely thank our colleagues for their valuable contributions and dedication, and we remain focused on ensuring a smooth transition for all involved.”

As part of the transition, WoSA has also confirmed that its UK trade tasting, originally scheduled for 7 July in London, will be postponed. The event will be rescheduled once the new UK office structure is fully in place. Further details are expected in due course.

The decision to forge ahead with a restructure follows an internal review of both current operations and future business needs. Meanwhile, the organisation stressed that it remains committed to the UK as a core export market.

Wehring and Pritchard are both understood to be considering their next steps, with expectations that they will remain active within the UK wine trade.