One of Australia’s most high profile and experienced wine marketers has been appointed to a senior executive role with the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.
Mr Paul Henry, who for the past three years has been UK and Ireland regional manager for the Corporation, will take over the role of General Manager - Market Development from 19 December 2005. Mr Henry replaces Mr Jonathan Scott who served eight years at the Corporation in the key export marketing role.
Corporation Chief Executive, Sam Tolley, said Mr Henry’s appointment came at a critical time for the Australian wine sector with the recent successful launch of the updated Wine Brand Australia marketing initiative amid increasing global competition in the wine industry.
“Paul was a valuable contributor to the Wine Brand Australia positioning and brand refreshment project,” said Mr Tolley. “Paul is very well suited to oversee our global marketing activity given his strategic marketing capabilities, extensive industry experience and detailed knowledge of the Corporation and the Australian wine sector.”
Mr Tolley said the principal objectives of the Corporation’s market development division were to defend and build the core audience for Australian wine, attract new consumers and to increase Australia’s influence in the global wine industry as both an innovative marketer and an industry leader. Australia is the world’s fourth largest wine exporter despite producing only four percent of the world’s wine.
“The Corporation recognises the considerable importance of Paul’s appointment at a time when the Australian wine sector is facing challenging trading conditions in its export markets,” said Mr Tolley.
Prior to joining the Corporation in February 2003 as UK and Ireland regional manager, Mr Henry, who was born and spent most of his working life in England, held a number of senior positions in the UK wine trade. These included editor roles at the leading UK wine industry publication, Harpers, and Director, Marketing and Press Relations for Enotria Winecellars.
Mr Henry said he was “absolutely delighted” to be appointed to the senior export marketing role within the Corporation – and excited by the prospect of moving to Australia with his wife, Tara, and their three children.
“After spending nearly three years promoting Australian wine overseas, the opportunity to move to Adelaide and be that much closer to the Australian wine sector in a strategic marketing role is simply an opportunity too good to pass up,” said Mr Henry.
In announcing Mr Henry’s appointment, Mr Tolley paid tribute to the substantial contribution made by Jonathan Scott in his eight year tenure at the AWBC.
“That contribution is well recognised by the Australian wine sector as Jonathan has presided over a very active market development program during a period of unparalleled export growth,” said Mr Tolley.
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