Vinarchy appoints Amanda Almond to lead its Europe, Middle East, and Africa operations, succeeding outgoing managing director Derek Nicol.

EMEA – Vinarchy, a global wine industry leader, has appointed Amanda Almond as its new regional managing director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), effective 1 September 2025.
She will succeed Derek Nicol, who is stepping down to pursue other opportunities.
Almond brings over 25 years of experience in the beverage industry, holding senior roles at Bacardi, PepsiCo, and Lindt & Sprüngli.
Most recently, she oversaw Bacardi’s operations across Northern Europe, Iberia, Greece, the UK, and Ireland, concluding her 12-year tenure with the company last month.
Ben Clarke, executive chairman of Vinarchy, praised Almond’s track record, stating, “Amanda is known for her commercial acumen, strong leadership, and passion for building premium brands and high-performing teams. Her blend of industry expertise, strategic vision, and people-focused leadership will be instrumental as we expand our EMEA footprint.”
Commenting on her appointment, Almond said, “I am thrilled to be joining Vinarchy at such an exciting time. I look forward to working with the EMEA team and our valued customers to grow our portfolio and advance the wine category.”
Clarke also expressed gratitude to Nicol for his contributions. “Derek has been pivotal in transforming the EMEA region and leading our global supply chain. We thank him for his dedication and leadership over the past five years and wish him success in his future endeavors.”
Vinarchy was established in April by Australian Wine Holdco Limited (AWL), a consortium of international institutional investors.
The formation brought together Accolade Wines’ assets with Australian, New Zealand, and Spanish wine businesses acquired from Pernod Ricard. In May, the company appointed Danny Celoni as chief executive.
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