He will remain on the WineGB board as non-executive director, with the specific brief to drive the industry’s strategy across government departments, MPs, regional and local councils. 

Peter Gladwin, WineGB’s vice chairman will step in to the role of non-executive managing director and together with Simon Robinson, chairman, will manage the organisation in the short term.

“His (Parkinson) political and strategic experience and contribution has seen WineGB as an organisation move forward significantly in the last 12 months,” said chairman Robinson.