Ste Michelle Wine Estates has appointed David Richardson as its CEO four months after David Bowman took the post, and five months after being acquired by The Wyckoff Family.
Richardson (below) joins the US Pacific Coast wine group after 14 years as CEO of food logistics provider NewCold Cooperatief UA. He replaces Bowman, who joined Ste Michelle in 2021 and was promoted to CEO in January.
No reason was given for Bowman’s departure. His LinkedIn profile states he left the company in March after leading the “transition of [Ste Michelle Wine Estates] after four years of private equity control to new ownership”.
Alongside Richardson’s appointment, the 14 Hands brand owner announced that its executive VP of commercial sales & marketing, Dan Heller (below), has been promoted to become chief commercial officer.
In a LinkedIn post announcing the moves at the weekend, Ste Michelle said: “David [Richardson] draws on four decades of leadership across food, agriculture and global operations, along with a collaborative, people‑first approach and a deep appreciation for Washington’s wine community.
“His leadership reflects our focus on supporting our teams, investing in our vineyards and brands, and staying true to our local roots.”
The 91-year-old company, which owns a raft of brands along with operations in California and Oregon, as well as in its home state of Washington, was acquired by The Wyckoff Family last December. Financial details of the purchase, from private equity group Sycamore Partners, were not disclosed.
