Accolade Wines appoints John Ratcliffe as CEO

Hardys winemaker Accolade Wines has ended its year-long search for a chief executive by opting for experience in appointing John Ratcliffe to the position.

John Ratcliffe, who is best-known for helping to create one of the brighter periods in a chequered history for the Oddbins wine retailer in the UK and was also MD of Oddbins owner Seagram in the UK, will take up his new post on 3 February next year. He will be based jointly in the UK and Australia.

The firm’s Australian owner, Champ Private Equity, has been using Ratcliffe as a ‘key adviser’ since it bought an 80% stake in the wine group from Constellation Brands in 2011.

‘Through his work with the board on key strategic intiatives it became increasingly apparent that John’s capabilities were an idea fit for leadership of the company,’ said Champ’s managing director, John Haddock, who is also Accolade project director.

Ratcliffe’s appointment follows the announcement that Steve Gorst will be Accolade’s chief financial and operating officer.

In September this year, fifth generation Hardys winemaker Bill Hardy announced that Champ would spent £10m to revitalise the brand.

Written by Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.