Château Margaux appoints Chinese BDM

The legendary first growth hires business development manager to “expand the brand’s position in China and refine [its] growing relationship with this major market.”

Château Margaux’s Fangyuan Zheng, Business Development Manager (China)

Château Margaux has announced the creation of a business development manager role in Shanghai and has appointed Fangyuan Zheng in the position.

The experienced Chinese manager will assist the first growth with its sales, maintain the relationship with its importers and train the retailers’ sales teams.

The appointment “is a unique opportunity to work with people who have a true passion for the wines they produce,” she said.

The position marks a further strategic expansion of Margaux into the Chinese market, following the appointment of Thibault Pontallier as brand ambassador.

The 2010 appointment was based in Hong Kong and marked the first time in the château’s history that a representative was based outside of France.

“The presence and work of Thibault Pontallier, the brand ambassador in Asia, for almost three years now, has allowed Château Margaux to reach a very favourable position there,” said Zheng. “I will make sure to pursue, with him, what he has started, further strengthening our relationships with Château Margaux importers.”

The new appointment will also ensure that Château Margaux acquires further knowledge about the Chinese market in terms of needs, desires and potential.

Zheng’s appointment reinforces Château Margaux’s commitment to China. The full-time presence of a full-time representative in the Mainland, along with formally registering the company’s Chinese name and launching a Chinese-language website demonstrates how important a market for first growth wines China has become, particularly for Château Margaux.