Leadership team
Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Michelle Brampton
Michelle joined WSET on 1st February 2022 as CEO designate and took over as CEO on 19th April 2022. Michelle previously spent 19 years at Treasury Wine Estates (TWE), where she most recently held the role of Managing Director Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) from 2018 to 2021. During this time Michelle was also on the boards of both The Drinks Trust and the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA). Earlier in her time at TWE, she gained international and commercial leadership experience as Commercial Director UK & Ireland and as CFO, EMEA and South East Asia.
Chief Financial Officer: Ian Pogue
Chief Information Officer: Tony Cook
Chief People and Culture Officer: Wendy Harpur
Chief Academic Programmes Officer: Johanna Anderson
Executive Director, WSET Americas & APAC: Dave Rudman DipWSET
Business Development Director EMEA: Rachel Webster DipWSET
Marketing Director: Carolyn d’Aguilar DipWSET
WSET School Principal: Richard Harding
Honorary President
Honorary President: Dr Laura Catena
Announced during our annual graduation ceremony on 19 April 2023, Dr Laura Catena has been selected to be WSET’s new Honorary President for her commitment and passion for education in the drinks industry.
Well-known as the ‘face of Argentine wine’ and named the Drinks Business’ 2022 Woman of the Year, she is currently Managing Director of Bodega Catena Zapata.
Trustees
The original founders of WSET represented the cornerstones of the UK wine and spirits trade, and representatives from each of these organisations continue to serve on our Board of Trustees.
Simon McMurtrie is currently serving as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA)
The WSTA represents companies covering all sectors of wine and spirits in the United Kingdom including production, import, export, transport and sales.
WSTA members range from major retailers, brand owners and wholesalers to fine wine and spirit specialists, logistics and bottling companies.
The WSTA provides market data, industry information and updates to its members, as well as providing opportunities to influence UK government policy through committees, networking groups and events.
WSTA representatives:
- Lulie Halstead
- Dan Jago
- Sukhinder Singh
Worshipful Company of Distillers
The Worshipful Company of Distillers was founded in 1638 when its founder, Sir Theodore de Mayerne, physician to Charles 1st, obtained a Royal Charter to regulate the distilling trade in the Cities of London, and the City of Westminster and within 21 miles thereof (later extended to 31 miles).
Now they aim to:
- To raise awareness within the UK industry
- To be the pre-eminent leader in spirits education
- To raise their profile both within the City and with other Livery Companies
- To support charitable causes
- To foster fellowship within the Livery
Members enjoy networking events throughout the year, with opportunities to connect with peers and mentors.
Worshipful Company of Distillers representative:
- Kirsten Grant Meikle DipWSET
Vintners' Company
The Vintners’ Company, with its first charter in 1363 is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London.
The Company devotes a proportion of its resources to furthering wine education in the UK as well as donating sizeable sums to a number of London-based charities, especially those concerned with alcohol abuse.
Vintners' Company representatives:
- Simon McMurtrie (Chairman of the Board of Trustees)
- Miles Beale
- Jo Thornton
Institute of Masters of Wine
The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) was founded by the Vintners’ Company and the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. They recognised that they needed to improve the standard of wine education in the British wine trade and create a formal certification for the most talented and knowledgeable members of the trade. The first examinations were held in 1953 and the Institute was formed in 1955 by the members who passed this inaugural exam.
Completing the Master of Wine program is now widely seen as one of the highest achievements in the wine trade and has grown from a qualification for the UK trade to encompassing members from 30 countries, for whom the institute organises events and trips.
Institute of Masters of Wine representative:
- Jo Locke MW
