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<\/p>\nAnishka Jelicich leaves Pernod Ricard to take over from New Zealand Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan following his retirement. Jelicich will step into her new role from the end of July.<\/p>\n
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Following last September\u2019s announcement that Philip Gregan was stepping down as CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers<\/a> (NZW) after 24 years heading up the trade body, his replacement has been confirmed.<\/p>\n Anishka Jelicich will take over the role from the end of July, arriving from her Paris-based position as global director of responsible marketing & sales for French wine and spirits company Pernod Ricard. The native New Zealander will move to Auckland to work out of NZW\u2019s head office.<\/p>\n NZW chair Fabian Yukich said that against a backdrop of \u201cheightened global uncertainty\u201d, the appointment of a new CEO \u201cbrings an opportunity for a fresh perspective, renewed focus and a clear, united vision for the industry\u201d.<\/p>\n Diverse stakeholders<\/p>\n \u201cAnishka was a stand-out candidate for us with her deep understanding of the New Zealand wine industry combined with extensive global knowledge and experience. She offers strong credentials in navigating complex international environments, a deep understanding of policy and trade, and a proven ability to build alignment across diverse stakeholders,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are delighted with her deep connection to New Zealand, and her passion for our world-renowned wines. She has a clear commitment to the future, with the strategic foresight needed to lead our organisation into its next chapter.\u201d \u201cThe New Zealand wine industry is globally respected, and it plays an important role in our nation\u2019s economy and communities,\u201d said Jelicich. \u201cI am looking forward to serving and supporting the interests of our members and working closely with the Board and the NZW team to support the industry through its current challenges, opportunities, and positioning it strongly for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Pivotal moment<\/p>\n Despite the recent news that Marlborough is braced for a prolonged downturn<\/a>, with growers cutting production and facing mounting financial pressure, Yukich said that \u201cthe industry\u2019s long-term prospects remain positive with growth across export markets, a strong indicator of consumer preference for New Zealand wine\u201d. As the new CEO of NZW, which currently unites more than 600 grower members and 700 winery members, Jelicich will be a vital cog in ensuring the continuation of this growth.<\/p>\n Speaking of his love for his country\u2019s wine community, exiting CEO Philip Gregan said that growers\u2019 \u201cpassionate commitment to everything that New Zealand wine stands for continues to inspire me. It has been a privilege to work on behalf of the wine industry for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n In a previous interview with db<\/a>, Gregan touched on the wisdom of New Zealand\u2019s early decision to be self-powered, a move born out of necessity, which will undoubtedly serve the nation\u2019s wine industry in the coming weeks and months as the global oil and fuel crisis continues to deepen.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t have a lot of oil, and we\u2019re an island nation, situated more than 2,000km from anywhere else. So we needed to use what was readily available to us,\u201d Gregan told db. \u201cWe have volcanoes, so we can produce a lot of geothermal energy, and we get a lot of westerly winds in New Zealand, so wind turbines were an obvious solution.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Gregan, \u201caround 80% of our energy is generated from renewable sources, whether that be hydro energy, geothermal, or wind.\u201d \u201cIf the conflict against Iran is resolved quickly, then I think the longer term impact on the global economy won\u2019t be as severe, but if this continues, then I think we have major inflationary challenges,\u201d Brett Fleming, managing director of Armit Wines, one of the UK\u2019s leading fine wine merchants, told db.<\/p>\n Related news<\/p>\n \n \n
Crucially, Jelicich\u2019s former roles at a senior executive level have placed her at the intersection of industry, government, and international markets.<\/p>\n
The conflict between the US and Israel and Iran has triggered an avalanche of issues for the global wine trade, from a scarcity in fuel to power wineries and produce screwcaps to disrupted shipping routes and cancelled events.<\/p>\n
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