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Berry Bros boosts board with new appointments
Berry Bros & Rudd has boosted its board with the appointment of two retail and drinks industry stalwarts as independent directors.
The retailer, which this year marks its 325th anniversary, has appointed former Selfridges CEO Anne Pitcher and Simon Hunt, CEO of global spirits incubator company Catalyst Spirits, and a former CEO of William Grant & Sons to the board bringing more than 50-years of experience and insight of ultra-premium prestige brands.
Pitcher is a leading industry advocate for reinventing luxury retail for a sustainable future, the company said, having spent 20-years working with iconic retail brand Selfridges. She spent over a decade as CEO, during which time Selfridges became the first department store to achieve the Carbon Trust triple standard, and latterly, was managing director of Selfridges Group. This comprises 25 stores worldwide across five brands, including Arnotts and Brown Thomas in Ireland, de Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, Holt Renfrew in Canada, and Selfridges in the UK. In 2020, she was awarded the prestigious 2020 Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot for her work in promoting leadership roles for women in fashion.
Meanwhile Hunt, a Keeper of the Quaich and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, will bring 30 years of experience working the drinks industry. This included 13 years at William Grant & Sons – five of which as CEO, and previously as President of North America and global Chief Commercial Officer. Prior to this, he was CEO of Pernod Ricard subsidiary Malibu Kahlua International, SVP Marketing for Allied Domecq, and held a variety of global marketing roles at Diageo, having joined the industry from the Marines.
Board chair Lizzy Rudd said she was delighted to welcome Pitcher and Hunt to Berry Bros. & Rudd, saying the new appointments embodied “the future direction of the business”, as well as supporting the company’s ambition “to be the best and most trusted fine wine and spirits merchant in the world” .
“As we celebrate our 325th year in business this year, it is crucial that we continue to adapt and look to the future,” she said. “We believe the complementary experience of both Anne and Simon will help us to innovate and grow successfully while creating a positive social and environmental impact for future generations to come.”
The appointment follows the recent appointment of Emily Rae as CFO, and brings the number of women on the Board to four.