Whitehaven announces CEO appointment

Whitehaven Wine Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Ross to the role of Chief Executive Officer.

Steve is not new to Whitehaven, having joined the company in 2008 following several years with Fonterra in commercial, analytical & project management roles.

Steve has been employed at Whitehaven for 14 years, more recently in the capacity of Financial and Operations Manager, responsible for a wide range of business functions including the company’s financial and legal management, vineyard and winery infrastructure, and overseeing the company’s recent winery expansion.  With his skillset and the breadth of company knowledge Steve is well placed to continue the significant growth that the company has undertaken in recent years.

It is an exciting time as the company looks to celebrate some major milestones.

In 2023 Whitehaven will celebrate a 20-year partnership with North American winery and distributor E&J Gallo which Sue and the late Greg White established in 2003.  Whitehaven became the first New Zealand wine brand to be included in the E&J Gallo wine portfolio, initially exporting 50,000 cases, and in 2023 Whitehaven will export nearly one million cases to North America.    

Whitehaven continues to be one of the fastest-growing New Zealand wine brands in the USA and was named an imported wine 2022 Impact Hot Brand for its double-digit growth in the ultra-premium wine category.

Looking to the future Whitehaven has a focus on major restoration and regeneration projects to achieve sustainability aspirations for the family-owned company. 

Sue White and the wider Whitehaven team welcome Steve to his new role.