Murray Valley Winegrowers has appointed Paul Derrico as its new executive officer, succeeding Mike Stone who announced his retirement in early April.

Derrico, 54, has a long history of involvement in the wine industry, being the inaugural CEO of the growers’ owned Vintage Traders Australia for eight years. For the past four years he has held the positions of Operations Manager and Financial Controller for Nangiloc Colignan Farms

There will be a handover period of a month, with Mike Stone expecting to leave MVW in early June.

MVW provides advocacy and viticultural extension services to winegrape growers in the Murray-Darling and Swan Hill regions of New South Wales and Victoria. These two regions comprise the second-largest production zone in Australia, contributing around 20 per cent of the fruit that makes wine for several Australian and international brands.

MVW chair Peter Crisp says Derrico has the experience, knowledge and attributes essential to providing a high level of service to the more than 300 winegrape producers in the Murray-Darling/Swan Hill regions.

“MVW is a highly-respected organisation, with a strong reputation for standing up for growers’ interests,” Derrico said.

“I intend to uphold that reputation, and will work tirelessly to continue to provide a voice for growers on a range of issues that impact on profitability and vineyard management.”