Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, Portugal
International business manager, with over 29 years experience and global reach, establishing commercial and marketing strategies, brand positioning, penetration and distribution in luxury wines and spirits markets. I possess a strategic mind, 360º business vision and am skilled in building and enhancing winning teams. Determined, passionate and irreverent, extremely focused on adding value and delivering goals achievement. Endlessly curious, always looking for evolution, adding knowledge, evolving, learning, self-developing and supporting others. Symington Family Estates is a leading Port and Portuguese wine producer headquartered in Porto, Portugal. The majority of our vineyards are located in the Douro Valley, in the north of Portugal, consisting of 26 estates covering 2,462 hectares and 1,114 hectares of vineyard. We are an independent family business, managing the reputed Port houses - Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s, and portfolio of Douro wine brands – Quinta do Vesuvio, Quinta do Ataíde, Altano and Prats & Symington (producers of Chryseia and Post Scriptum), as well as Quinta da Fonte Souto, a stunning estate in the Portalegre sub-region of the Alto Alentejo. Recently partnering for Vertice and Contacto brands with premium Portuguese players. All our vineyards are sustainably managed under a minimum intervention certification and 130 ha are organically farmed, the largest area of organic vineyard in northern Portugal. We have invested significantly in viticulture R&D to adapt to climate change and are working on an ambitious sustainability plan, with a series of goals under the banner of Mission 2025. Certified B Corporation – the first wine company in Portugal to take this step – joining a global community of businesses audited for the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility, committed to using business as a force for good. In 2020 we joined International Wineries for Climate Action, an association of wine companies leading the decarbonisation of the wine sector, in line with the urgent CO2 reduction guidelines established by global scientists and the UN.
Symington Family Estates is one of the world's leading producers of premium port, the leading vineyard owner in the Douro Valley and one of the top Portuguese wine producers.
Management of the Sales & Marketing activities of the Spirits Business Unit dedicated to the Spirits drinks segment (luxury segment) within the Group. With sales over 70 countries, deliver turnover double digit increase ; responsible for budget elaboration, follow up and results delivery. Key accounts (global multinational companies in the spirits drinks global scene) management, achieving trust relations and client maximum penetration. Responsible for marketing strategy elaboration and conduction, brand promotion, achieving presently international reputation in all the markets where it is operating. Local follow up and visits to customers and markets, enabling close relations. Management of the Business Developers team, articulation of the international team as well as direct management subsidiaries. Setup of sales network in the world markets.
Management of the sales activity of the Company over 20 markets in Central and East Europe and Asia, (with physical visits to every market), having delivered strong turnover increase; budget elaboration, follow up and results delivery; prices policy establishment; management of affiliate international companies; commercial follow up and company promotion. Management of the national and international teams, as well as agents and distributors setup on the key markets. Credit management (in a particularly sensitive area). Local follow up and visits to customers.
Management of all customer demands - orders, shipments, new business features, customer support, planning, credit management, claims management, first follow up for all new requests