The international wine and spirits marketplace introduces new Global Portfolio Management (GPM) and expanded teams operating across US, UK, Europe and Asia
New hires come from Berry Bros. & Rudd, Sotheby’s, JancisRobinson.com, Benchmark Wine Group and more
August 1st – New York, NY – FINE+RARE Group – the leading international marketplace for wine, spirits and collectible experiences – is pleased to announce the appointment of ten new positions across its global portfolio. With $750M of fine wine and spirits under management across the US, UK, Europe and Asia, FINE+RARE is expanding teams within site development, sales and customer experience. The current new hires come from some of the industry’s leading fine wine brands and esteemed auction houses, but the FINE+RARE team is continuing to recruit additional talent across markets in the coming weeks.
As FINE+RARE expands its presence in Asia, Hong Kong-based Jose Lau joins as its new Sales Director Asia. With an incredible 14-year tenure in the industry, Jose joins from Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd where he worked as Head of Sales, Private Clients.
“It’s an exciting time to join FINE+RARE,” said Jose Lau, Sales Director, Asia. “The company has been quietly growing in recent years – expanding storage facilities, building its worldwide logistics network and upgrading technology to provide world-class access and services for clients in Asia, whether buying or selling. I can’t wait to contribute and build on the existing achievements of FINE+RARE Group – adding local storage for clients in Hong Kong and Singapore and providing additional localized services via our global platform.”
The expansion will see the creation of a new Global Portfolio Management team. The GPM division will advise on everything related to the buying, selling and storing of clients’ wine and spirits. FINE+RARE Group’s GPM sector will be led by Vice President of Global Portfolio Management Allan Frischman – previously at Sotheby’s and Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. (the number one wine auction house in the United States). Additional GPM members include Ashika Matthews (Portfolio Manager – UK) an influential wine writer and maker, and Desiree Anderson (Portfolio Manager – US), who joined the FINE+RARE team in 2023.
On joining the new Global portfolio team, Vice President of Global Portfolio Management Allan Frischman said: “It’s great to come aboard the FINE+RARE team. Based on my first few months, I am excited for what is to come. Looking ahead, the way we leverage our technology to benefit our clients is key. It is critical to continue elevating our service, delivering tools to clients and supporting in managing client portfolios with expert advice and data. The new Global Portfolio Management team will work to provide even better services to our ever-growing global network of passionate collectors buying and/or selling wines and spirits.
Further hires across teams include Andrea Olalla (Head of Customer Experience), Christie Chan (Customer Experience Executive), Brenda Ramirez (Sales Support Associate), Peter Hauszknecht (Lead Backend Developer), Csaba Hovráth (Senior Backend Developer) and Jonathan Garcia (Warehouse Operations Manager). Most recently, Ricardo Carre joined the Vinfolio Account Management team as a Client Advisor following FINE+RARE’s acquisition of the US platform, in 2023.
“We are thrilled to welcome these ten exceptional industry leaders to the FINE+RARE Group,” said Patrick O’Connor, CEO of FINE+RARE Group. “The new hires’ expertise and dedication to excellence will be instrumental in supporting our continued global growth. This team will also support our ongoing mission to enhance our ability to provide outstanding service to all our fine wine and spirits global markets. We are attracting top-tier specialist talent, which is a testament to the strategy and emergence of FINE+RARE as the industry’s only true global platform.”
The FINE+RARE marketplace delivers access to renowned producers, cellars and collections. The company has become a global tour de force with burgeoning operations worldwide. Across the single unified digital platform, the site is designed mainly for collectors who buy, store, and sell their luxury portfolio.
FINE+RARE Group New Hires
Allan Frischman (Vice President, Global Portfolio Management) – USA
Starting Date: 03/02/2024
Allan Frischman has over 30 years of experience in the rare wine industry, with a vast majority of that spent sourcing, studying, authenticating and selling fine wine collections for a leading auction house. As Vice President of Global Portfolio Management Allan will be working to develop the FINE+RARE Group network of reservists and their portfolios – allowing clients to both sell and buy even more than before. He will also work to finesse local pricing of FINE+RARE’s market locations and manage clients’ wine storage. Formerly, Allan was a senior level expert at two of the world’s leading auction houses – Sotheby’s and Hart Davis Hart Wine Co.
Ashika Matthews (Portfolio Manager UK) – London
Starting Date: 05/07/2024
Ashika began as a winemaker in Bordeaux in the late 1990s before working for JancisRobinson.com. Ashika also brings extensive experience as a fine wine buyer to the FINE+RARE Group as she previously worked at DMD Ventures and as Chief Executive Officer at VIDA Wines & Spirits UK. The new portfolio manager for the UK has been trading, teaching, lecturing and hosting fine wine events for blue-chip clients for the last 25 years.
Brenda Ramirez (Sales Support Associate) – USA
Starting Date: 06/03/2024
Brenda has joined the Sales and Buying team and is supporting client inquiries, delivery requests, and storage updates to ensure a seamless and high-quality client experience. Based in Napa Valley, California, Brenda has worked in a number of client-facing positions across wineries in the area, including Alpha Omega Winery and Trefethen Vineyards.
Christie Chan (Customer Experience Executive) – Hong Kong
Starting Date: 06/07/2024
As FINE+RARE Group’s newest member to join the Hong Kong Customer Experience team, Christie brings over five years of experience within the luxury industry. Previously, Christie worked with iconic brands like Farfetch and Lane Crawford. On the FINE+RARE team, she will support global and local client inquiries.
Andrea Olalla (Head of Customer Experience) – London
Starting Date: 06/17/2024
Andrea has over 10 years’ experience in customer service and brings key experience with luxury marketplaces, including Matchesfashion and Flowerbox – understanding the demands and needs of high-end clients. Andrea will be in charge of the global Customer Experience, managing teams in the UK, US and Asia. With hubs in Napa, London and Hong Kong, she will be taking FINE+RARE Group’s service to the next level, delivering 24-hour support for clients around the world, ensuring a seamless and personalized experience across the platform.
Csaba Hovráth (Senior Backend Developer) – Hungary
Starting Date: 06/17/2024
With over 10 year’s experience in software development, Csaba is joining the FINE+RARE Group backend team to focus on platform optimization and integration.
Peter Hauszknecht (Lead Backend Developer) – Hungary
Starting Date: 07/01/2024
Peter has been the Lead Engineer on FINE+RARE Group’s proprietary catalog since its start. While Peter began on the project as a freelance consultant, this new appointment marks his shift to come on the team permanently. He will lead the platform through further phases of optimisation and integration.
Jonathan Garcia (Warehouse Operations Manager) – USA
Starting Date: 07/01/2024
Jonathan has a wealth of experience in warehouse management, having previously worked for Dry Farm Wines, operating out of Napa, as well as being instrumental in assisting in their move to Dallas, relocating and setting up the warehouse and training the new staff ready for operation. During his time at Dry Farm Wines, he has also been involved in integration to new systems (no fewer than 3 times), which will prove beneficial as FINE+RARE migrates to the new platform and tech stack in the upcoming year.
Jose Lau (Sales Director, Asia) – Hong Kong
Starting Date: 07/04/2024
Jose joins the FINE+RARE Hong Kong team as an experienced Sales professional. Before starting with the wine marketplace, he was Head of Sales, Private Clients at Berry Bros. & Rudd – Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant – where he worked for over 11 years.
Ricardo Carre (Client Advisor) – USA
Starting date: 07/08/2024
Ricardo joined the Vinfolio Account Management team earlier this month as a Client Advisor. Ricardo has worked in sales since 2018, where he previously worked at Benchmark Wine Group in Napa.
About FINE+RARE Group:
Founded in 1994, the FINE+RARE Group is the leading international marketplace for the world’s most prestigious wine cellars, distinguished collections and renowned producers. FINE+RARE Group has become a global tour de force with burgeoning operations in the UK, US, Asia, and Europe, and circa $750 million assets under management worldwide. Across the single digital technology platform designed mainly for collectors who buy, store and sell their luxury portfolio.
FINE+RARE Group also hosts a series of events and experiences throughout the year allowing potential buyers and collectors to discover the world’s most renowned wine and spirit brands. Each event offers a chance to understand these producers’ style, philosophy, history, greatest collections and special releases.
