Port and wine producer Symington Family Estates has announced leadership changes including a joint-CEO pairing.
The Portugal-based family business said Charles Symington and Rob Symington will become co-CEOs, replacing Rupert Symington, who becomes chairman.
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Current chairman Johnny Symington is to retire after 40 years with the business, which has been producing port since 1882.
The Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s port brands producer said in a statement that fourth generation Charles Symington, who is the company’s head winemaker, will remain focused on wine production. Rob, a fifth generation of the family, will oversee commercial strategy, wine tourism and sustainability.
Johnny Symington had been chairman since 2019. Rupert and Charles are his cousins.
He was born in Porto, home of the port industry, becoming one of the fourth generations of Symingtons to be raised in the port trade.
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By GlobalDataThe family began producing still wines in 1999 and, over the last 25 years, has developed a portfolio of wines produced from the Douro, Alentejo, and Vinho Verde regions in Portugal, and sparkling wine from Hampshire in the UK.
The wine tourism side of the business has expanded too, and includes two restaurants at the family’s Quinta do Bomfim estate in Douro, a visitor centre at Quinta da Fonte Souto in the Alentejo region, along with a new, yet to be disclosed, project soon to be launched in downtown Porto.
Johnny Symington said: “Our company has gone through several total transformations over the last few decades, which has enabled us to become more relevant and successful in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive market.”
He added: “I’m filled with confidence in those that will succeed me and the future of our company. I’m certain that our long-standing legacy and reputation for quality and reliability will continue.”
He will retire at the end of this month.
The new leadership team is joined by six other members of the fifth generation of Symingtons – Charlotte, Harry, Anthony, Vicky, Teresa and Hugh – who will be working in marketing, sales and wine tourism.
Symington Family Estates farms the largest area of prime (‘A’ rated) vineyard in the Douro valley, with 25 quintas (estates) in the area covering more than 2,500 hectares and more than 1,000 hectares of vineyard.
