17 August 2025

WineGB strengthens its Board with new members in Charlie Holland, Michael Kennedy and Gary Smith, and appoints Nick Wenman as Interim Chair and Ruth Simpson as Interim Deputy Chair. 

Nick takes over from Sam Linter on 20^th August 2025 at the end of her term as Chair which ran for four years between 2021 – 2025. During her time as the first female Chair, she pursued a more inclusive membership and drove forward greater diversity for the whole sector. Sam has seen a radical step up in membership, strategic focus and delivery for members. This includes the first three-year strategy – ‘Cultivating Success’ which at heart supports members to make and market wine. Notable results include the launch of the sector wide education National Competency Framework working with Plumpton College where she is the Director of Wine; a free for all Safeguarding Toolkit to help the sector to better protect its people; and the hire of Nicola Bates as CEO who is supporting the sector by addressing challenges around production, marketing and reputation.  

Nick Wenman, Founder and Owner Albury Organic Vineyard, becomes Interim Chair having been the Deputy Chair between 2020 and 2025. He is replaced by long-term Board member Ruth Simpson, Co-Founder of Simpsons Wine Estate, as Deputy Chair. Nick is due to retire from the Board in May 2026 and is focused on ensuring that the new Directors are onboarded while he provides continuity. The aim is to identify a long-term replacement and provide them with the appropriate and necessary support to take over the leading role in UK wines.     

Joining as Directors are: 

• Band A Director – Charlie Holland, Jackson Family Wines 

• Band B Director – Michael Kennedy, CEO Roebuck Estates   

• Director – Gary Smith, CEO MDCV 

Nick Wenman, WineGB Chair says  

“Having worked closely with Sam for over four years, I’m honoured to take on the role of Interim Chair at WineGB. Our industry has been going through significant change, and faces some challenges in the current economic climate, but I’m pleased that we have worked successfully in building a strong foundation for our future growth as well as continuing to reflect the needs of our members. As highlighted in our recent Industry Report the sector is responding well to economic pressures, with growing sales as well as increased production. Over the next nine months my focus will be on strengthening WineGB’s platform for long term success, as well as ensuring that we deliver the highest level of support we can for our members.”  

 
Sam Linter, Former WineGB Chair says 

“It has been a huge privilege to be leading WineGB during this pivotal time. When market conditions are tough it means that a membership body has to step up and deliver. Over the past four years WineGB has transformed, and I will be willing the Board and team on as they build on our work.” 

Biographies  

Nick Wenman – Founder and Owner of Albury Organic Vineyard  

Nick is the Founder and Owner of Albury Organic Vineyard in the Surrey Hills, which he planted in 2009. He retired in 2005 having spent 25 years in the IT industry working for large corporates as well as running his own businesses. Prior to joining the WineGB Board, in 2020 he was chairman of WineGB South East and was a member of the planning committee for the UK International Cool Climate Wine Symposium in 2016. 

Ruth Simpson – Co-Founder Simpsons Wine Estate  

Ruth Simpson and her husband Charles have been making award winning wines at Domaine de Sainte Rose, their stunning, southern French property, since 2002. In 2012, attracted by the quality of the terroir and the opportunity to become part of one of the most dynamic wine producing regions of the world, they brought their expertise and savoir-faire back to the UK, establishing Simpsons’ Wine Estate in the North Downs of Kent, with an aspiration to produce the finest quality English wine. With a strong focus on provenance, Simpsons’ Wine Estate now produces an internationally acclaimed range of exclusively estate-grown still and sparkling wines, with over half of their production now sold into export markets. Ruth comes from a well-known Scottish whisky family and prior to what is now 24 years in the wine industry, worked in the humanitarian sector, focusing on international aid and development. She joined the Board in 2021. 

Charlie Holland –  Jackson Family Wines 

After completing his first harvest in Australia 25 years ago, Charlie held a number of overseas winemaking positions, honing his winemaking skills in some of the world’s most iconic vineyard regions around the world, from the sun soaked vineyards of Napa Valley and Southern France to the rolling hills of Germany and New Zealand. Drawn by the buzz around the burgeoning English wine scene, Charlie returned home to make wine in 2009 and over the past 16 years produced some of England’s most celebrated wines. Most notably Charlie held the dual role of CEO and Head Winemaker at Gusbourne for over a decade. In 2023 Charlie joined Jackson Family Wines to help set-up and oversees the development of their new English wine business, most notably with the launch of their Crouch Valley brand, Marbury. 

Michael Kennedy – CEO Roebuck Estates  

Michael joined Roebuck Estates in 20222 with over twenty years experience in the drinks industry, predominantly in premium branded spirits. He has held roles such as CEO of the Drambuie Liqueur Company and Managing Director of Stock Spirits Italy and International and has a strong background in international market development. As a relative newcomer to the English Wine scene, Roebuck Estates has seen significant growth in the last few years with an absolute focus on vintage only, traditional method sparkling from fruit grown across its six vineyards in West and East Sussex. 

Gary Smith – CEO MDCV 

With a successful career in the FMCG, Pharmaceutical and Avionics sectors, Gary took over as CEO for MDCV UK in 2019 where he has rapidly evolved the business to become the largest producer of Sparkling wine in England, with a production capacity of 4-5 million bottles by 2030. With a passion and drive for sustainability, Gary has ensured that this is a core pillar of the business evolution and is ingrained in day-to-day practise across all of the UK estates under his leadership.   

Ends. 

Photos available below.

For more information, please contact press@temp.winegb.co.uk 

Notes to editors: 

Wines of Great Britain (WineGB) represents, leads, and supports the sustainable growth of the Great British wine sector. It is the national association for the English and Welsh wine industry. Its mission is to advance the interests of its 500 producer members who represent the vast majority of the UK’s productive hectarage, and establish Great Britain as one of the world’s great quality and most sustainable wine regions.