At the end of last week, Accolade Wines announced that Robert Foye will be stepping down from his current position as CEO. Foye first joined Accolade in March 2020 prior to assuming the top leadership position two months later.
Drinks Trade reached out to Accolade Wines to confirm the news.
“Accolade Wines confirms that Robert Foye has decided to step down from his role as CEO of Accolade Wines,” said a spokesperson for Accolade Wines this morning.
“With the Pernod Ricard Wines merger announced, Robert has decided that now is an appropriate time to focus on the next stage of his career and to relocate permanently back to Texas to spend more time with his family.”
The Pernod Ricard merger deal will see Accolade’s owners Australian Wine Holdco Limited acquire Pernod Ricard’s Australian, New Zealand, and Spanish wine brand portfolios. The ten brands involved in the sale are responsible for producing more than 10 million 9 litre cases annually and reflect Pernod Ricard’s change in focus away from wine.
Australian Wine Holdco Limited, a private equity consortium led by Bain Capital, became equity owners of Accolade wines in February this year as part of a recapitalisation plan to improve the group’s financial stability. At the time, Foye said “this agreement is great news for Accolade, our customers, our suppliers and our people… Like all Australian winemakers, we have been hit by a number of challenging macro-economic and industry headwinds in recent years.”
According to Accolade Wines’ spokesperson, Foye has played a pivotal role in helping Australia’s second largest wine group navigate these recent economic challenges: “Over the past four years, Robert has led significant transformations across the company, positioning the organisation to deliver in all our key markets despite the significant external challenges.
“His most recent success has been guiding the organisation through the recapitalisation process, leaving the business in a much stronger position.”
The CEO role being vacated by Robert Foye will be filled by UK-based Ben Clarke, who has just completed his first six months as Chairman at Accolade Wines.
“Ben Clarke, who joined Accolade Wines as Chairman in April 2024, will assume the role of Executive Chairman and will lead the business through its next exciting phase of growth,” Accolade’s spokesperson told Drinks Trade.
“Prior to joining Accolade Wines, Ben has held various board and executive leadership roles with multiple food and beverage businesses in Europe, the US and Australia, including leading Kraft Foods in Australia and New Zealand in the early 2000s.”
It is currently unclear whether Accolade Wines is also planning on appointing a replacement CEO. More information concerning the leadership changes and the merger deal will be posted to Drinks Trade soon.
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