Nick Waterman Stands as New CEO of Yalumba: Major Staffing Changes to Australia’s Oldest Family Owned Winery Announced

Major changes to staffing at Australia’s oldest family owned winery, the Yalumba Wine Company, were announced this week.

Most significantly is the announcement of the change in CEO, which sees proprietor and current CEO of Yalumba, Robert Hill-Smith, step down from the role, instead assuming the role of Chair.

Mr. Hill-Smith joined the company 30 years ago and has during his role, evolved the company into a highly regarded leading winemaker. Mr. Hill-Smith’s roles as Chair of AFFW and Board Member of WFA, will however continue his linkage to the wine industry on a political and promotional level.

Instead, Nick Waterman, current Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company, has been announced as the new CEO, seeing Mr. Waterman also become a Director of the company. Mr. Waterman joined Yalumba’s distribution business, Negociants Australia, in 2002, working his way up to Executive Director of Strategy and Trading in 2009, before COO in 2014.

With the announcement, it was also said that Peter Barnes is retiring as Chairman of the Yalumba Board of Directors. Mr. Barnes has served the Board for 12 years, and has been a tremendous mentor and Chair during that time, Yalumba says.

All changes will commence March 7 this year.