With over 30 years’ experience working in the UK Wines and Spirits trade, including 12 years as Sales Director for our company, Melissa took over as Managing Director in 2021. She is well known in the trade from her time in Senior Wines and Spirits Buying roles at Sainsbury’s. On one particular buying trip she fell in love with the magical world of Sherry and Jerez.
She is committed to supporting the next generation of wine professionals and is involved in education with the WSET, Wines from Spain’s Gran Orden de Caballeros and the UK’s Champagne Academy. Melissa loves nothing more than being amongst our customers, partners and trade friends sharing her enthusiasm for our wines and spirits. Always with glass half full!
Meet Suzie, a seasoned wine professional whose journey in the wine trade spans three decades, beginning at Majestic before venturing into the world of selling Spanish wine to independent and on-trade businesses in the South East. She enjoyed a 7-year tenure as a supermarket wine buyer, before finally finding her forever home at GBUK. Combining her consummate sales professionalism with an astonishing ability to party, she makes everything look a lot easier than we know it is! Fuelled by her passion for wine and sunshine, preferably enjoyed together, her commendable language skills shine brightest when ordering rounds of more than just "cuatro cervezas" for her team during visits to our wineries in Spain and Chile.
James joined the FMCG industry at the age of 16 and hasn’t looked back since. With over 8 years of experience working in grocery, from the shop floor to head office, he has a deep knowledge of the industry. A true passion for wine, James now finds himself in his dream job! Having his first taste of the wine business working for Kingsland Drinks, it’s safe to say he soon realised there’s no other category he’d like to work in. Outside of work, James is (unfortunately) an avid Manchester United fan, a keen (average) golfer and often found running around the streets of Manchester.
Back when he had hair on his head, Hamish laid out his wine trade foundations by working as a cellar rat for Corney & Barrow, East Anglia. This was followed by meticulous analysis of the grape lexicons and a stint for both Majestic and Enotria & Coe all around the country. Now based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where he has been adopted by locals gladly, he is well placed for looking after most of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland for our on-trade wholesale partners.
When he is not training restaurant staff, hosting events or trips, you will find him in the stalls of many a music venue or on the tennis court. Proud holder of the WSET Diploma and Kia Ora 200 metre Rainbow Swimming Award Scheme 1993.