Robin's new Wine Society role is nothing to sniff at
HIGH-profile appointments have been made at two top firms in the Advertiser area recently.
The Stevenage-based wine merchant The Wine Society has hired Robin McMillan as its new chief executive.
The 45-year-old will join the members-only retailer in May from Berry Bros & Rudd, where he has been chief operating officer and board member since 2006.
Working for BB&R, he has performed a variety of roles covering retail, sales, operations, customer service, international business development, HR and logistics, giving him the ideal experience to take over the running of The Wine Society, the firm said.
"Robin will bring a fresh approach and new ideas," said society chairman Sarah Evans.
"We are impressed by his energy, his understanding and appreciation of the mutual model, his attention to detail and focus on member service.
"His extensive experience of the wine industry is a real bonus."
Robin added: "The mutual model demands an overriding focus on members and service rather than profits and growth and is almost unique in the wine trade making it a very attractive prospect with, I believe, great further potential.
"I am tremendously excited at the prospect of working with the committee, executive team and all of the Wine Society staff to ensure that we provide and enhance services that are relevant to members whilst continuing to offer outstanding value for money."
Meanwhile, a partner at chartered accountancy firm George Hay has been appointed vice-president of the UK200Group, a leading association of independent accountancy and lawyer firms.
Nick Willis, who is a senior partner at the firm which has offices in Biggleswade and Letchworth, was named as vice-president at the UK200Group’s annual conference in Liverpool in November 2011, officially taking up the role on 1 January 2012.
George Hay’s membership of the UK200Group means that it has access to a wide range of expertise from fellow members based across the UK and overseas.
As a trade off, other firms within the group can also call upon the specialist knowledge of George Hay’s team when required.
"I am delighted to be appointed vice-president of the UK200Group and proud to part of an organisation which does so much to promote the benefits of firms working together to share expertise and deliver even better services to their clients," said Nick.
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