SA: Sam Tolley steps down as wine and brandy corp chief

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2007
SA: Sam Tolley steps down as wine and brandy corp chief

ADELAIDE, Dec 21 AAP - The man who has overseen an 833 per cent growth in Australia's
wine exports has quit his job.

Sam Tolley has resigned as chief executive of the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.

Mr Tolley held the position for 13 years, starting when Australia's wine exports were
valued at $360 million.

This year, exports have topped $3 billion.

"It has been an exciting time but also a hectic time and I think I'm now ready to follow
up new interests," Mr Tolley said today.

"I'm very satisfied with what the corporation has achieved, as I am with its sound
financial position.

"And I am extremely positive about the sector's future, despite the recent challenges
thrown up by the drought and international competition."

Corporation chairman John Moore said Mr Tolley had presided over a sustained period
of growth of the federal statutory authority.

Responsibilities include export compliance, wine promotion, information and analysis,
trade negotiations and defining wine-producing boundary areas.

"Sam believes the completion of the directions to 2025 industry strategy this year
was an important milestone for the wine sector, and an appropriate time for him to hand
over the reins," Mr Moore said.

"He played a key role in the conception, development and marketing of the strategy,
which has been widely embraced."

Mr Tolley's resignation takes effect on February 7 next year with the corporation's
secretary, Jock Osborne, to be acting chief executive until a replacement is found.

AAP sl/ht/de

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