(Eugene, OR) – King Estate Winery Co-founder and CEO Ed King has promoted two company veterans to lead its sales team under a new geographic structure.
Randy Ford has been promoted from Vice President to Senior Vice President of Sales, Eastern U.S. Ford, who joined King Estate in 2007, will continue to be based in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Edward Holmes has been promoted from Northwest Regional Manager to Vice President of Sales, Western U.S., including Canada. Based in the greater Seattle, Wash., area, Holmes has been with King Estate since 2011.
Ford and Holmes will jointly manage international sales, and will share increased responsibilities for setting national direction and managing the entire sales activity of the company’s 10-person sales force.
King Estate sells its three brands – King Estate, North by Northwest and Acrobat – in all 50 states as well as internationally. It is typically Oregon’s leading producer by volume, and was recently certified by Demeter USA as “in conversion” to becoming the largest Biodynamic® vineyard in the U.S.
“Randy and Edward are true King Estaters who were obvious choices for these leadership roles,” King said. “They are time- and fire-tested and exceptionally accomplished professionals, well known for their fine wine expertise.”
Ford is a 21-year veteran in the wine business, the last nine years with King Estate. Ford began his food and beverage career working in restaurants, which led to a successful 12-year career with Republic National Distributing Company in Florida where he passed the RNDC Masters Level Wine Certification in 2005 and completed the Wine Executive Program at University of California, Davis, in 2013. He’s a committed food and wine enthusiast who pursues his wine education through domestic and international travel.
Holmes worked for industry leader Brown-Forman for 10 years, beginning as On-Premise Market Manager for Wines for the Northwest, then moving into a National Accounts position representing the entire Brown-Forman portfolio. Holmes’ passion for wine began at a young age, when he was introduced to the industry by family friend and Washington wine pioneer Paul Thomas. That passion has stayed with him ever since. Holmes completed the University of California, Davis, Wine Executive Program in 2014, and tirelessly pursues continued education and exposure to fine wine and cuisine.
About King Estate: King Estate, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is located southwest of Eugene, Ore., at the southern tip of the Willamette Valley. Founded in 1991 by the King family, King Estate is committed to producing wines of exceptional quality under sustainable farming methods, organic certification with Oregon Tilth, and is in transition to Demeter USA’s Biodynamic standards. King Estate focuses on producing world-class Oregon Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, and wines from the inland growing regions of Oregon and Washington under its North by Northwest label. To this day, King Estate is owned and operated by the King Family.
