The board of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has announced that Caroline Thompson-Hill will be its new chair. 

Thompson-Hill, who is the head of beer, wines and spirits at Marks & Spencer, will become the first chair from a multiple retailer to take up the role. 

According to the WSTA, Thompson-Hill has a wealth of experience from two decades in the trade. Her career has included periods of time at both Diageo and Treasury Wine Estates, alongside a period as MD for Accolade Wines in Europe. 

Last year, she took up her current role at M&S, where she is responsible for the retailer’s full alcohol range. 

Taking over from Mark Riley, MD at Edrington, Thompson-Hill pledged to build on recent work, responding to continued change and a challenging commercial and political landscape. She attended her first board meeting as chair last week. 

On the new position, Thompson-Hill said: “It is a privilege to be appointed chair of the WSTA board and I look forward to working with the team to deliver the best service possible to our members.   

“I am eager to get to grips with the WSTA’s many workstreams to ensure that we prioritise effectively as we enter into a new year.” 

Miles Beale, chief executive of the WSTA, added: “We warmly welcome Caroline to the chair, and feel lucky to have an informed, experienced and pragmatic drinks industry expert in the role at a vital time. She has a passion for the wine and spirit sector, and I know that her thoughtful approach to leadership will be a huge asset to the WSTA and its members.  

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mark Riley for being such a collegiate and effective chair, and for his constructive and practical approach to leading the board over three, challenging, years.”