Melissa Draycott
Managing Director
With over 30 years’ experience working in the UK Wines and Spirits trade, including 12 years as Sales Director for our company, Melissa took over as Managing Director in 2021. She is well known in the trade from her time in Senior Wines and Spirits Buying roles at Sainsbury’s. On one particular buying trip she fell in love with the magical world of Sherry and Jerez.
She is committed to supporting the next generation of wine professionals and is involved in education with the WSET, Wines from Spain’s Gran Orden de Caballeros and the UK’s Champagne Academy. Melissa loves nothing more than being amongst our customers, partners and trade friends sharing her enthusiasm for our wines and spirits. Always with glass half full!
Suzie Parr
Sales Director
Meet Suzie, a seasoned wine professional whose journey in the wine trade spans three decades, beginning at Majestic before venturing into the world of selling Spanish wine to independent and on-trade businesses in the South East. She enjoyed a 7-year tenure as a supermarket wine buyer, before finally finding her forever home at GBUK. Combining her consummate sales professionalism with an astonishing ability to party, she makes everything look a lot easier than we know it is! Fuelled by her passion for wine and sunshine, preferably enjoyed together, her commendable language skills shine brightest when ordering rounds of more than just "cuatro cervezas" for her team during visits to our wineries in Spain and Chile.
Paul Shepherd
Head of On Trade and Specialist Retail
In 2011, Gonzalez Byass UK was looking to expand its Palomino-based empire Northwards. After several fruitless sorties outside the M25 the company was yet to find a suitable individual to meet its strict requirements; an intelligent, passionate and presentable wine enthusiast with own transportation. At the same time, a young Northern male was out foraging in the forests of West Wirral, searching for berries to ferment into something potent to sell to his neighbours. Frustrated with his job at the coal mines, he decided to erect some ‘Man+Van for hire’ signs around the North West in an attempt to find a new revenue source. One of these signs was seen by a wandering GBUK employee and the rest is history.
Director of Sales, Melissa Draycott said of Paul’s appointment “While we couldn’t quite find anyone in the North of England to meet all five of our necessary requirements, Paul does at least have his own transport”.
Paul can usually be found sitting on his rocking chair on his front porch drinking Beronia's 198 Barricas.
Ivo Stoyanov
Business Development Manager – London
Since starting out in the hospitality industry in 1997, Ivo’s dedication to his trade quickly shone through, earning him the accolade of Best Sommelier of Bulgaria in both 2001 and 2003. He left his home country for London in 2005, where he his roles as head sommelier and wine buyer at prestigious account including Joel Rebuchon gave him an in depth understanding of the ways of the UK trade. Ivo brought his expertise to GBUK’s London team in October 2017, and is happy to indulge his passion for sherry with a glass of Tio Pepe Fino, his go to tipple.
Bryan Smith
Business Development Manager – London & South East
Essex Boy Bryan started his preparations for working in the drinks trade by first joining the British Army. In true military fashion, he worked all over the world without ever realising which country he was actually in at the time. Then, after firstly honing his wine skills with Oddbins, he has worked across wine, beer and spirits and is now working as part of the London sales team at Gonzalez Byass UK. Passionate about Sherries, Ports, Wine, Champagnes and cocktails he couldn’t be in a better place. As a keen hillwalker, he has been known to disappear off the grid for a couple of weeks at time in the Scottish Highlands. Mostly now any spare time is spent around family, pets, DIY and his beloved beach hut. But when he gets a few quiet moments he does it with a chilled glass of Leonor Palo Cortado.
Marcin Schilling
Business Development Manager – London
Hailing originally from Poland, Marcin has certainly made his mark on the London food and drink scene over the previous decade or so. Previous roles as a Sommelier and 7 years working in the Wine Department at Selfridges have given him a great understanding of the needs of the restaurant and prestige retail sectors. Hugely passionate about wine in all its form, Marcin is frequently found holding forth in masterclasses and tutored tastings for restaurant staff and consumers. Joining the London Sales Team in January 2013, he quickly earned himself a terrier-like reputation for seeking out homes for the most prestigious wines in the portfolio.
Winner of the Champagne Academy Award in his Selfridges days, Marcin loves a glass of Tio Pepe Fino and Secastilla Old Vines Garnacha with a mushroom risotto.
David Hayward
Business Development Manager – Midlands, Southwest England & Wales
After a long career in catering and the culinary arts, David joined Gonzalez Byass UK in 2013, looking after the Wild West and the Welsh Valleys. When not stuck behind a herd of cows or a flock of sheep he can possibly be found flying Tiger Moths and Microlights or strolling the Wiltshire downs and walking his imaginary dog along the Kennet and Avon Canal.
David is the true gent in the gang, and despite our best efforts to bring him down to our level, is rarely seen without a jacket and tie. However, we all know that appearances can be deceptive, and we have discovered that under that suave exterior lies a rocking karaoke singer!
An enthusiastic cook and seafood lover, his favourite meal would be of Lobster Thermidor or Oysters, washed down with a crisp, cold glass of Jackson Estate Green Lip Sauvignon Blanc.
Selina Harris
Senior Business Manager
Selina has dedicated her entire career to the Wine Industry – crazy or genius? You decide!
Kicking off strong with a University thesis based upon ‘Winegrowing and depopulation in the south of France’ Selina has experienced wine from all sides – selling, buying, marketing and undoubtedly, consuming (for product knowledge purposes, she swears)
Once responsible for ¼ of the world for the wine team at Safeway, followed by a casual 16-year stint at Concha y Toro, Selina brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the team.
Selina enjoys hill walking and running in the Oxfordshire countryside and Brecon Beacons (lush) as well as visiting new places with her family.
Nothing hits the spot at the end of a long run quite like a Tio Pepe En Rama with green olives, Jamon Iberico and salted almonds – preferably in the sunshine!
Steve Shield
Senior Business Manager – Multiple Retail
One of GBUK’s founding fathers, Steve has worked as a business manager in the wine industry since modern records began. His huge experience, methodical approach and vast reserves of patience confer an air of Zen-like repose, make Steve a safe and reliable set of hands for a diverse selection of channels and accounts. It is no surprise that Steve also relies upon this acute mental discipline in his private life; perhaps when fishing or whilst enjoying a round of golf.
The not-so-recent arrival of a daughter has transformed this former urban wolf into the model rural father. These days he is more likely to be concentrating on his rigorous fitness regime than partying, but don’t be fooled – he still throws some mean shapes on the dance floor!
However, some things remain consistent; Steve likes nothing better than to relax with a glass of Quinta do Noval’s 20 year old Tawny.
Aaron Lee
Senior Business Manager
Aaron’s love for the drinks industry began many moons ago, behind the stick in some of Bristol’s finest bars and restaurants. Since then, he has worked across various commercial roles in the on- and off-trade, both in the UK and internationally.
When he’s not discussing the merits of the grape, you’ll find him noodling on a saxophone or donning a pair of trainers and hitting the trails.
As a self-confessed Iberophile, Aaron is thrilled to be working with the exceptional portfolio of wines and spirits at González Byass.
Robert Markham
Head of Fine Wines
Rob began his career in wine in a small independent wine shop in rural Wiltshire. It was here he spent solitary Sunday shifts behind the till, sifting through wine literature. His first ever trip to Spain was to Jerez as a 13-year-old on an exchange and years later he went on to study Spanish and French at university, so it’s rather fitting he landed up with Gonzalez Byass!
After 6 years living the London life, Rob retreated to his country roots in west Hampshire in search of more space for his growing family, and oversized wine fridge. Rob likes to spend his spare time doing all manner of outdoorsy things, but what better to come back to than a glass of Pinot Gris Rotenberg from Domaine Zind Humbrecht with some good locally sourced food.
Sarah Pollard
Head Of Marketing and Gonzalez Byass Brands
Making budgetary control look like an art form, we are convinced that Sarah was put on earth to prove that it is possible to fully understand a spreadsheet, complete with pivot tables, and still be someone you want to spend time with. Leading our marketing and responsible for all Gonzalez Byass brands, she is a hugely experienced brand manager and marketer, combining cool resolve with a flair for impeccable implementation.
Busy mother of three, Sarah is also obsessed with challenging herself to run crazy races, so it comes as no surprise that Sarah has hefty reserves of tenacity, patience and commitment.
Her hectic schedule allows for little opportunity for relaxation and the only thing that keeps her going is the thought of a glass of ice cold Tio Pepe at the end of the day.
Steph Hill
Senior Brand Manager
Born and raised in Hertfordshire, Steph fell in love with all things vinous working for Majestic, and was Manager at Gerards Cross before moving to Gonzalez Byass UK. Priding herself on her organisation skills, Steph is currently undergoing counselling for her obsessive compulsion to write lists. We have a secret competiton running to see if we can find something that she has forgotten to put on her to do list – no winners to date, but we are ever hopeful.
A keen painter, in her spare time Steph can be found indulging in her artistic side, cuddling her adorable boys, running around after her boisterous spaniel Jake, or just curled up on the sofa with a glass of Jackson Estate Vintage Widow Pinot Noir.
Victoria Jupe
Head of Agency Brands and Spirits
Victoria looks after our agency and spirit brands and has lived the food & drink industry from birth, brought up in pubs & restaurants. Dinner table chat has always been discussing the finer detail of range changes, menus, rotas and P&L’s. So it made sense for her to head straight to Mitchell’s & Butlers where she worked in marketing for 10 years. When her twin girls arrived she set up on her own before finding her way to GBUK.
She loves living on the south coast and splits her weekends between long walks in the New Forest with her girls and paddle boarding when she can escape them!
Having always loved a good Cabernet, she now loves nothing more than a London No 1 Martini to kick start the weekend.
Jack Griffiths
Digital Marketing Manager
Jack joined the team after a long stint at Majestic wine where he led a team of creatives, producing all manner of content to keep the wine world entertained. Now looking after all things digital at Gonzalez Byass UK, he works with the brand managers and sales team to spread the vinous word through the online sphere. Armed with the WSET Diploma in Wine, he’s always looking for an excuse to open a bottle, and now he’s found the perfect alibi – all in the name of ‘work’. Nobly determined to taste through the entire GBUK portfolio, Jack takes his responsibilities very seriously.
Amanda Baxter
Senior Brand Manager
Born and raised in Scotland’s hotel scene, Amanda left for London to start her career with Majestic 16 years ago and has only just left the big smoke for the green spaces of Bedfordshire. A varied career, entirely in wine and spirits, has taken her through fine wine brokers, spirits distributors, her own consultancy and landed her at Gonzalez Byass – Tio Pepe being the first trip she did at Majestic with never-forgotten wines. Between baking bread and cakes, shuttling her little boy round school and classes and learning sign language, she laughs in the face of 'free time'. She vows to finish the WSET Diploma beast, AKA Unit 3, a mere 12 years since starting. A Champagne Academy alumni, she’d never say no to a glass of Deutz, but similarly she’s declared the whole portfolio looks yummy and can’t wait to get stuck in.
Billie Goodman
Assistant Brand Manager
Billie brings a touch of glamour to the office and knows more about the latest fashion, beauty and shopping than anyone. She joined the team in January 2015 in a marketing admin role and has now moved into brand support, working closely with Steph, helping to turn her brand vision into a reality.
Outside work, she is kept busy running around after her two young children. When she manages to get a rare night off, she likes nothing better than getting together with her friends with a bottle of Vilarnau Cava. The question – should she go for pink or blue? The answer: both bottles are so pretty, she’ll have to take one of each. Cheers!
Emma Jones
Agency and Spirits Manager
Emma works with Victoria on our fabulous portfolio of GB Spirits and third party Agencies. Originally from Decanter, her vast experience in all things events definitely comes in handy when organising our annual trade tastings and the many types of online events we have these days!
In her spare time, she can be found at home in her art studio where she enjoys creating paintings to exhibit at galleries in the South East.
Michele Palomar
Marketing Admin Assistant
Michele has called Hertfordshire home for most of her life, where she loves cycling and strolling the towpaths of East Herts with her wonderful dog, Buddy. Her career started with managing admin for major investment banks in London but she took a 15-year break to manage the ultimate project: raising a family! More recently, Michele has spent several years working on some challenging recruitment projects before joining the team at GBUK. Never one to miss an opportunity to pop open a bottle of wine—red, white, or rosé—with friends and family, Michele comes fully prepped to dive into the Gonzalez Byass portfolio. With two older boys of Spanish descent, Michele is keen to do some homeschooling of her own and introduce them to the Gonzalez Byass wines and spirits! Armed with her RYA Powerboat Handling Certificate and despite a fear of deep water, on weekends you can find her bravely mastering the Solent waves on weekends!
Kerry Reid
Customer Services Manager
Kerry has been with GBUK since 2012, she is a mum of two who loves to travel with her family and her greatest wish is to cage-dive with Great White Sharks (one day)! No less exciting, but slightly safer, her day job is right at the sharp end of GBUK, managing the Customer Services team, whilst keeping a close eye on our stocks. In her spare time (when not taxiing her children around), she enjoys going to the gym, creating shapes at yoga, and the occasional chilled glass of Wirra Wirra 12th Man Chardonnay.
Kim Anderson
Customer Service Administrator
Born and raised in Harpenden, Kim joined the Customer Service team at Gonzalez Byass UK in January 2015.
In her spare time, Kim enjoys travelling to places such as Thailand, Australia, South Africa and visiting her family in America.
Kim is often getting out her running shoes for charity and has taken part in many runs including the Moonwalk and the London Marathon. Her wine of choice is Beronia Rioja Reserva.
Janet Betchley
Customer Service Administrator
Janet is a founder-member of the GBUK team, although, not content with the balmy St Albans’ climate, she did temporarily move her desk to a beach in Spain. Jan is a compulsive list maker (bordering on OCD), has excellent attention to detail, and is a great listener, especially when its Adele or Ed Sheeran on the gramophone. She loves being by the sea, reading and music, and is passionate about good food and wine, especially Vilarnau Cava Rosé. Jan’s motto is – Life is not a dress rehearsal.
Julie Schneider
Customer Service Administrator
Julie joined the customer service team in April 2022. A dedicated mum to two girls she is always on the go. If she’s not dropping the eldest daughter to dance classes then she may be found enjoying the peacefulness of the countryside with her youngest daughter. Since joining the company she has enjoyed sampling the Gonzalez Byass range and is yet to decide on a favourite!
Morag Woodliffe
HR Director
Morag has been our Part Time HRD since 2013, she is the one that is responsible for pulling together the brilliant team of people that work in our business and for ensuring that once they are here they rarely leave – we’re never sure of her tactics. It didn’t take her long to be fully absorbed in our business and she has become quite adept at consuming our brands – she says its really important to know a company well to be able to provide great HR support, we’ll believe her, thousands wouldn’t. She ensures we are all developing and growing in our roles and that we have a great company culture. When she is not doing things all HR, she is dashing all over the country with her cycling mad family. If you are interested in finding out more about opportunities, get in touch on morag@peoplepuzzles.co.uk.
James Gray
Business Manager
James joined the FMCG industry at the age of 16 and hasn’t looked back since. With over 8 years of experience working in grocery, from the shop floor to head office, he has a deep knowledge of the industry. A true passion for wine, James now finds himself in his dream job! Having his first taste of the wine business working for Kingsland Drinks, it’s safe to say he soon realised there’s no other category he’d like to work in. Outside of work, James is (unfortunately) an avid Manchester United fan, a keen (average) golfer and often found running around the streets of Manchester.
Hamish Bredin
Business Development Manager
Back when he had hair on his head, Hamish laid out his wine trade foundations by working as a cellar rat for Corney & Barrow, East Anglia. This was followed by meticulous analysis of the grape lexicons and a stint for both Majestic and Enotria & Coe all around the country. Now based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where he has been adopted by locals gladly, he is well placed for looking after most of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland for our on-trade wholesale partners.
When he is not training restaurant staff, hosting events or trips, you will find him in the stalls of many a music venue or on the tennis court. Proud holder of the WSET Diploma and Kia Ora 200 metre Rainbow Swimming Award Scheme 1993.
