Waitrose wine boss Justin Howard-Sneyd is moving to Direct Wines.

Direct Wines has appointed Howard-Sneyd MW as global wine director, starting at the end of February.

Howard-Sneyd, previously Head of Wine at Waitrose, will be responsible for Direct Wines’ portfolio of wines across its various international businesses, including its largest UK brand, Laithwaites Wine.

Direct Wines chief executive Simon McMurtrie said Howard-Sneyd ‘brings with him many great qualities, not least his outstanding knowledge of and vision for the world of wine.’

Howard-Sneyd said, ‘I have always admired Tony (Laithwaite), his enthusiasm for finding exciting wines, and the great relationship that he has with his customers.’

The current global wine director, Dan Snook has left to become managing director for a Bordeaux negociant.

Waitrose is Decanter’s Supermarket of the Year 2009 and Direct Wines won Decanter Independent Merchant of the Year 2007 at the Decanter World Wine Awards Retailer Awards.

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Written by Adam Lechmere

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Adam Lechmere
Adam Lechmere
Decanter Magazine, Wine Editor & Writer

Adam Lechmere is consultant editor of Club Oenologique among other things.

Formerly launch editor of Decanter.com, which he edited until 2011, he has been writing about wine for 20 years, contributing to Decanter, World of Fine Wine, Meininger’s, the Guardian and many others. Before joining the wine world he worked for the BBC, and as a music and film gossip journalist.