Non-Executive Director, Company Officer, Founder and Advisor, Michele’s business and leadership contributions and passions lie in developing and implementing business strategy, building enduring brands and businesses, and enabling digital growth and transformation. Throughout her career she has led and scaled substantial consumer businesses across all aspects of the business ecosystem: for brands, pureplay e-commerce, omnichannel, retail, wholesale and advertising businesses. She is an Australian, who has worked in the US, UK, Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia and Australia and has been recognised as one of the most influential women in both Silicon Valley and the global wine community.

Michele has spent a significant part of her career working in the wine business. Her passion for wine began when she worked as a Sommelier at the Regent Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney while she was at University. She has run a wine import and distribution business, founded a wine e-commerce business and run the North American division of a large publicly listed Australian wine business.

Michele is currently an Independent Director of Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A., one of the world’s leading wine businesses. The business owns three renowned classified Bordeaux wines, including the celebrated First Growth Château Mouton Rothschild, as well as Opus One from the Napa Valley and Alma Viva from Chile. Baron Philippe de Rothschild also owns Mouton Cadet, the largest Bordeaux wine brand. Michele is honoured to be the first non-French board member to join the business.

Current employer: Baron Philippe de Rothschild

Primary area(s) of work: Strategy

Industry sector(s): Marketing, Sales, Distribution, Agency/Importer, Off trade, On trade, Wine judge, International trade, Import/Export

Wine styles: Fine and rare wines

Wine region expertise: Australia, Chile, Bordeaux, California

Market expertise: Australia, North America, Canada

Specialisms: Marketing wine, Investment strategies, Financial and commercial structures, Supplier/customer relationships, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Routes to market, Importation, Distribution, Direct to consumer, Supermarket and multiple retail, Wine auctions, Branding, Wine judging