Industry news: ASC’s Don St. Pierre leaving China, becoming advisor to Suntory Wine

A press release from ASC Fine Wines states that company co-founder Don St. Pierre, Jr. is stepping down as executive chairman, becoming a senior adviser at Suntory Wine (Suntory is ASC’s parent company), and moving to the United States nearly twenty years after he settled down in Shanghai and built with his father one of the most important wine importers and distributors in China:

ASC Fine Wines (ASC) announced today the new appointment of Don St. Pierre, Jr., ASC’s Co-Founder, as Senior Advisor to Suntory Wine International Limited (SWI). Concurrent with his new role, Mr. St. Pierre, Jr. will remain as a member of ASC’s board and step down as the company’s executive chairman.  Mr. St. Pierre, Jr. founded ASC Fine Wines together with his father in 1996 and moved to Shanghai in 1999 where he has lived and worked since. With his new appointment, Mr. St. Pierre will relocate his primary residence, together with his family, to San Diego, California in the United States.

In his new role, Mr. St. Pierre, Jr. will work closely with the SWI leadership team on their global business growth strategy and their goal to become one of the world’s leading wine companies.  At the same time, he will provide counsel to ASC’s CEO, John Watkins, and his team in their on-going efforts to strengthen and expand ASC’s position as the leading distributor of imported wines, premium water and wine accessories in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

St. Pierre, Jr.’s colorful career in wine has ranged from being ranked among the world’s most influential wine people to being caught up in a customs investigation into the company. He remained with ASC after a majority share was sold to Suntory in 2009 and became the executive chairman when Watkins joined as CEO in 2012.

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