Three key appointments at Omnia Wines

After extensive strategic planning to optimise operations in terms of its corporate structure, Omnia Wines has announced the appointment of three key personnel; Chris O'Shea as Executive Director, Sales and Marketing; Rydal Jeftha as Business Development Manager, South Africa and Stephan Smit as Winemaker for the Welmoed brand.

A marketing executive with a wealth of international experience, including a ten-year tenure with Gilbey's South Africa and IDV/Diageo in Scandinavia, Chris O'Shea most recently hails from Edward Dillon, an Irish wines and spirits distributor, where his responsibilities as Corporate Development Director included strategic change management. Chris will focus on expanding Omnia Wines' presence in key international markets.

Chris will be supported in his role by Rydal Jeftha, Omnia Wines' Business Development Manager, South Africa. In conjunction with Chris, Rydal has assumed responsibility for the local success of Omnia Wines' four core brands; Kumkani, Welmoed, Versus and Arniston Bay, in addition to his continued commercial responsibility for the Thandi Wines empowerment project, with which he has been involved for the past two years.

Formerly Senior Winemaker at Franschhoek Vineyards, Stephan Smit is enthused at the prospect of working with Welmoed, and Omnia Wines.

Omnia Wines was formed last year with the merger of Stellenbosch Vineyards and Vinfruco. A top-five South African wine producer with an annual turnover of close to R400 million, the company aims to be recognised as South Africa's leading wine producer. The new appointments follow the strengthening of the company's UK-team; further appointments in South Africa and abroad may be expected in the near future to complete the team at Omnia Wines.