LIWF director to leave in January

James Murray, exhibition director at Brintex – organisers of the London International Wine Fair – is stepping down from his role on 11 January.

In an email to the drinks business yesterday, Murray explained that he was leaving Brintex after 10 years because he “felt that it was time for a new challenge”.

He also wrote that he was considering a “number of opportunities”.

Murray has been subject to extensive criticism from the UK and international wine trade for the London-based annual wine fair.

The industry has called for a number of changes, from stand price reductions to more effective ways to encourage visitors from the on-trade as well as retail sectors.

One suggestion – which Murray has put in place for next year – is moving the fair’s schedule to Monday-Wednesday (it was previously held over three days from Tuesday-Thursday).

However, despite calls from some exhibitors to relocate the exhibition at another London venue, the fair will remain at the ExCel centre in Docklands for next year.

Murray also noted that Brintex had already appointed a successor, Ross Carter.

Carter had worked on the LIWF between 2007 and 2009, but has most recently been one of the wine buying team at PLB – an importer headed by Peter Darbyshire, one of LIWF’s most vocal critics.