Close Menu
News

Yalumba’s Hill-Smith steps down as CEO

Robert Hill-Smith, chief executive of Yalumba, is to step down as chief executive after 30 years in the role for Australia’s oldest family winery.

Appointed in 1985, Hill-Smith will step down on 7 March to chair the board of directors, with Nick Waterman due to take over the role of chief executive.

Waterman joined Yalumba in 2002, becoming executive director of strategy and training in 2009, and more recently, chief operating officer of the company’s import/export business Negociants.

Yalumba’s current chairman of the board, Peter Barnes, will retire on 7 March after 12 years in the role.

“Peter has been a tremendous mentor and chair, guiding us through some lumpy seas,” Hill-Smith said in a statement.

A fifth generation descendent of Yalumba’s founder, Samuel Smith, Robert Hill-Smith will remain the chairman of Australia’s First Families of Wine.

Founded in the Barossa Valley in 1849, Yalumba makes around 2m cases of wine a year, 40% of which it exports.

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No