The Board

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.

Alex is a lawyer with over 25 years of experience both in-house and private practice. He is currently the Group General Counsel & Company Secretary of Nyetimber.

Throughout his career Alex has covered several in-house legal, company secretarial, and compliance roles, including with an AIM listed leading wine retailer, a multi-national science conglomerate, a TMD private equity and advisory firm, and a sovereign wealth fund based in the UAE. Prior to that Alex practiced law for over 10 years at the London office of Simmons & Simmons, where he specialised as a corporate lawyer.

Alex regularly advises board members and C-level management and has sat on boards of portfolio companies. He is fluent in Italian and English and his interests include most sports, cigars, and wine.

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.

Australian born Chris Unger is based in London, and is Sales and Marketing Director for Hampshire based Hattingley Valley Wines, where he is responsible for the development and execution of the sales and marketing strategy. He is also Chair of the Wines of Great Britain Export Council. Prior to joining Hattingley Valley Wines in 2021, Chris was selling and marketing some of the best known and respected Australian wines throughout the UK and Europe. Ahead of his move to the UK in 2005, Chris was based in Western Australia working as a viticulturist and assistant winemaker for a variety of wineries and vineyards. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Viticulture, a Diploma of Wine and Spirits (WSET) and an MBA.

Currently a freelance winemaking consultant, Emma was previously Head Winemaker at Hattingley Valley, having designed, built and run the winery, while also running her laboratory/wine analysis business, Custom Crush, now owned by Hattingley.

Twice winner of the UK Winemaker of the Year, in 2014 and 2016, Emma has been involved with WineGB for many years as a member of the Management Advisory Committee and as immediate past Chair of the Winemaking Working Group. One of the first graduates of the BSc V&O at Plumpton College, she worked in NZ, California, and Australia before returning to the UK 15 years ago.

Co-author of The Winegrowers’ Handbook she was also a major contributor to WineGB’s New Entrants’ Guide. As a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Vintners, she also sits on their Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

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. 

Ian Sargent with his wife Ann planted Laurel Vines in the East Riding of Yorkshire in 2011. Ian has a passion for learning, sustainability and technology which he uses in the vineyard, winery and other business interests. He strives to promote and develop the Midlands and North region and the fantastic variety of vineyards it contains. Now working with other regions and stakeholders to further develop the UK vine growing and winemaking. 

Jonica is co-owner of Fox & Fox, a family business nestled in the heart of the East Sussex High Weald, first planted in 2004. Fox & Fox produces an innovative range of highly acclaimed and highly awarded sparkling wines. Jonica has nearly 20 years’ experience as a grower and producer selling wines both in the UK and in selected export markets.

Michael joined Roebuck Estates in 2022 with over twenty years experience in the drinks industry, predominantly in premium branded spirits with a very strong focus on international markets.

Having joined the Drambuie Liqueur Company in 2002 as a Regional Director for Southern Europe, he became CEO of the privately owned business in 2011 and after a successful turnaround of the iconic Scottish brand, led the subsequent sale to William Grants & Son in 2014.

His most recent role, prior to joining Roebuck Estates,  was with Stock Spirits Group (SSG), where he ran the Italian part of the business between 2014 and 2019, as well as the international arm of the business. In 2020 he headed up the newly formed M&A department, completing several acquisitions in Ireland and Italy until SSG’s acquisition by private equity firm, CVC Partners in the following year.

He holds a BA (Hons) in International Business and Languages from the University of Stirling, as well as an Erasmus Diploma from L’Ecole de Management Européen in Strasbourg.

Following university, Michael joined the Graduate Management Scheme of Marks and Spencer, being the first trainee manager to be appointed to an overseas position. (Paris). After a period as a buyer, he then moved to Mars Confectionery where he worked as a National Sales Manager in the UK.

Ned grew up at Oatley, a small and successful Somerset vineyard planted by his parents in the 1980s. Following a 20-year career in a global FTSE100 company, he has returned with his young family to continue the adventure.

He brings with him extensive experience in marketing, consumer insight and strategy development, along with a keen interest in high-quality still wines.