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Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has appointed Sam Fischer as its new chief executive officer and managing director, effective 27 October 2025.

He will replace Tim Ford, who is stepping down after 14 years with the company, including five as CEO. The appointment follows an extended global search and succession planning process led by the TWE board, with Ford’s involvement.
Fischer brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the alcohol beverages, consumer goods and luxury sectors. He is currently CEO of Lion, a Kirin Group-owned beverage company operating in Australia, New Zealand and the US.
His previous experience includes 15 years at Diageo, where he served as president of Asia Pacific and global travel and sat on the global executive committee. Earlier, Fischer held senior roles at Colgate-Palmolive across Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. He also serves as a non-executive director at Burberry Group.
TWE's chairman, John Mullen, said: “Following an extensive global search for Tim’s successor, I’m
thrilled to welcome Sam to TWE. With over 30 years of global leadership experience, Sam
brings proven CEO credentials, exceptional strategic acumen and deep expertise in alcohol
beverages, consumer goods and luxury brand building, accompanied by a strong track record
of driving business growth. Having assessed a highly competitive field of candidates, the
board and I firmly believe that Sam is the right person to lead TWE into its next era of growth
and performance.”
Fischer added: “It’s a privilege to be joining TWE with its enviable portfolio of brands, global footprint, strong luxury-led strategy and highly talented team. I’ve long admired the business and it’s an honour to have been selected by the board to build on the excellent foundations to lead the next phase of TWE’s exciting evolution.”
Mullen credited Ford with strengthening TWE’s financial position, navigating major disruptions such as the Covid-19 pandemic and Chinese tariffs and overseeing the company’s strategic shift towards luxury wines – including the divestment of its US commercial portfolio and acquisition of Frank Family Vineyards and DAOU Vineyards.
Ford commented: “It has been my absolute pleasure and privilege to lead TWE and I have full confidence in Sam and our talented team’s ability to build on our position of strength and take the company forward over the long-term, maximising the opportunities ahead”.
Ford will remain in his role until 30 September 2025 to ensure a smooth handover. Fischer’s appointment is subject to regulatory approvals.