Former md of Mentzendorff and Ehrmanns Bill Page dies at 81
The former md of Mentzendorff and Ehrmanns, Bill Page, has died at the age of 81, db has learnt.
A third-generation wine-trader, William (Bill) Page was a key player at Mentzendorff, joining the company as managing director in 2001 at a time of “considerable flux”, due to the over-inflation of the Champagne market following a millennium “bubble”.
According to the company, he rose to the challenge of bringing stability to both the agency portfolio and the Mentzendorff team, achieving this by creating a young team that was “both empowered and encouraged to take responsibility”. This helped to restore confidence to the company and the result was a significant improvement in results which totally transformed the company’s image within the wine and spirit trade.
Page became a non-executive chairman in March 2004, a position he held for two years before stepping down.
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Before joining Menztenndorff, Page at Ehrmanns for 20 years, having joined as managing director in 1991, prior to that he was at Grants of St James/Allied Group, which was later bought by Matthew Clark to become its branded wine division, later transfering its wine brands to Constellation Wines in 2008.
Outside of the wine trade, Page was a director of the Professional Rugby Players Association, and was also involved in the Wine & Spirit Education Trust between 2006-2012, along with the Licensed Trade Charities Trust and The Benevolent Society, which he chaired in 2000.
He once described his long career in the wine trade as “hugely satisfying” and one that had produced wonderful friendships.
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Very very sad news. Bill was a ‘Giant’ in every sense of the word and greatly respected by all who knew him in the Trade. A man with a big heart and deeply held principles. A man of great humanity and humility. The last few years have been difficult for him and tragic for his family and close friends. Rest in peace Bill, we will all miss you.
Thank you Charles. That means a lot to us at this sad time. Dad was adored by us all.