Hart is to be responsible for the new and old world wine agencies represented by Stevens Garnier except for those associated with its parent company Sogrape. He is to work on extending the agencies in the portfolio.

Hart said: "There is plenty of scope for portfolio development, in particular across Australia, Italy and South Africa where I have recent experience. I will be developing the range to complement the Sogrape offering, and ensuring the portfolio at Stevens Garnier is fit for the modern wine trade, supporting our ambitious growth plans."

Matt Douglas, who was appointed managing director at Stevens Garnier just over a year ago, said: “We are delighted to have Daniel Hart joining us in this crucial role which has been created in line with our planned growth strategy. His experience and approach are exactly the right fit for our developing business and for delivering what our customers want."