Crimson Wine Group Appoints Mike Cekay As Senior Vice President Global Sales

Stag’s Leap District, Napa Valley, CA –  Crimson Wine Group (CWG) has announced the appointment of Mike Cekay to the position of Senior Vice President, Global Sales for the estate-focused portfolio of luxury domestic wine brands including  Archery Summit (Willamette Valley, OR), Chamisal Vineyards (Edna Valley, CA), Pine Ridge Vineyards (Stag’s Leap District, CA) and Seghesio Family Vineyards (Dry Creek Valley, CA.) Reporting directly to CEO Erle Martin, Cekay’s appointment underscores the commitment to building a strong sales infrastructure as the company matures, expanding its domestic and export market potential exponentially.

Commencing Monday, April 16^th, Cekay, based in Chicago, IL will oversee five regional managers and one export manager as well as three account managers located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Metro New York City and Shanghai.  With a goal this year of selling 250,000 cases across the portfolio, Cekay’s appointment marks a strategic juncture in the company’s evolution.

Over the past 18 years, Cekay has gained a breadth of experience in sales and distributor management having worked in U.S. cruise ship sales, as trade marketing manager for Allied Domecq Duty Free Americas, On Premise National Account Director for Allied Domecq Wines USA, DVP-Central Region at Beam Wine Estates, VP of Off-Premise National Accounts for Future Brands, LLC and most recently Executive Vice President and Global Sales Manager for Don Sebastiani & Sons where he was responsible for delivering $100 million of gross revenue.  His extensive sales management experience both domestically and internationally coupled with strong trade marketing skills and a passion for the luxury wine market make him a sound fit with Crimson.

Of his appointment, CEO Martin states, “Following an outstanding year in 2011 for our business, including the integration of the Seghesio Family Vineyards wines into our luxury portfolio, Crimson was poised to take the next logical step in terms of a global sales focus.  Mike’s qualifications and cross-functional experience will bring a strong asset to our team.”

The search was conducted by the executive search firm, The Cypress Group of Napa Valley.

About Crimson Wine Group
The Crimson Wine Group is a leading company in the luxury domestic wine business, with five coveted brands and over 700 planted acres in five growing regions and 11 outstanding AVAs across California, Oregon and Washington. Representing over 250,000 cases within the higher-end price segments, Crimson focuses on estate-grown wines from producers that represent the best their appellation has to offer.  The portfolio is a diverse collection, across both varietals and appellations, of top quality wines for the marketplace which are thoughtfully stewarded by the company’s team.

For media inquiries, headshots or interviews please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates, press@charlescomm.com or 415/701-9463.