Spirits & Cocktails Australia have announced that CEO Alec Wagstaff will be stepping down from his role as the association’s CEO, effective later this month.
In a statement about the move, Spirits & Cocktails Australia Chair, David Smith, thanked Wagstaff for his time with the association and for his work in the transition from the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia (DSICA).
“Over the past three years, Spirits & Cocktails Australia CEO Alec Wagstaff has successfully completed the organisation’s transition from DSICA to Spirits & Cocktails Australia, bedded down a core tax reform strategy and led the creation of enhanced campaign capability,” Smith said.
“With the organisation now well established, Alec and the Executive have agreed that it is an appropriate time to transition leadership of Spirits & Cocktails Australia. As a result, Alec will be stepping down effective 15 November 2019, with Greg Holland of Speyside Consulting taking over in an interim capacity while Alec’s successor is recruited.”
He added: “Spirits & Cocktails Australia congratulates Alec for the great platform he has developed over the last three years, including repositioning our brand, creating strong relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and building a more efficient and campaign-capable organisation in line with our objectives.
“We wish Alec and his family all the best for the future.”
Speaking about the decision, Wagstaff, who worked at CCA for over 20 years before joining DSICA, said that as well as enjoying a summer break, he was going to focus on his role with the Board of Palliative Care Australia.
“I have enjoyed working in a great industry, especially the opportunity to meet people at the front line – be it in distilleries in Speyside, Kentucky, Cognac, the Adelaide Hills or Roseberry or in cocktail bars across the country,” Wagstaff said.
“These, and our loyal spirits drinkers, are the folk that Spirits and Cocktails really represent and they are those most effected by the ridiculously high spirits tax we pay in Australia.
“I would like to thank you for the help you have given me over the last three years. I will be throwing myself into my role on the Board of Palliative Care Australia in parallel with a summer break to reflect on what might be the next adventure.”