The business, which is listed on ISDX (formerly PLUS before it was acquired by shipping brokerage ICAP in 2012), sells its products to retailer such as Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, as well as restaurants run by Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey.
Having formally been development director at luxury brands business LVMH, Harvey will report to Chapel Down CEO Frazer Thompson and take up his position on 14 September.
In an interview with Real Business in April, Thompson said the next five years for the business would be about making wines and beers that others can’t through excellence, innovation, insight and perspiration .
He also added that Chapel Down would sell more of them for a premium price to customers in UK and 12 focussed export markets and make more profit to invest in creating stronger brands.
In October 2014, Chapel Down used equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs to raise 3.9m from in excess of 1,400 investors in 24 days a record at the time. It also became the first UK-listed company in the world to raise new funds using crowdfunding.
The capital was raised to scale the business, with investments made in planting more vines, building a new winery, construction of new distribution and storage facilities and building a brewery and visitor attraction.
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Commenting on the appointment of Harvey, Thompson said he joins at an exciting time . There are huge opportunities and challenges ahead in both English wine and beer and we need the very best talent at Chapel Down to ensure that we are abel to better build our business and our brands,” he added.
Mark brings a wealth of experience in luxury drinks development as well as the personality and intelligence to help us share the future of the English wine industry. His appointment will enable us to make our wine and beer business as good as they can be.
Through his involvement with LVMH, Harvey served as Dom Perignon brand manager, spirits brand manager (for Moet Hennessy), business director and, most recently, business development director (USA) for The Glenmorangie Company.
Other high end wines and sprits part of the LVMH family include Hennessy, Veuve Clicquot, Belvedere and Krug.
On his new job, Harvey said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Chapel Down team at such an exciting time for the English Wine industry. We have a winning combination of outstanding wines, a fantastic team and world class customers. I’m really looking forward to the challenges and enormous opportunities ahead.
