Vintage Wine Estates, Santa Rosa, Calif., has appointed Jeff Nicholson to the new role of chief operating officer. Most recently, Nicholson was an operating partner at AGR partners. AGR Partners is an investment firm dedicated to food and agribusiness who acquired a minority equity stake in Vintage Wine Estates in April 2018. Nicholson will continue to be on the Advisory Board for AGR Partners.

"We are pleased to have Jeff join us at Vintage Wine Estates," said Pat Roney, chief executive officer of Vintage Wine Estates, in a statement. "We are growing rapidly and welcome his expertise in mergers and acquisitions, extensive value chain experience and entrepreneurial spirit."

Nicholson joined AGR in 2017 with a focus on identifying and developing new investment opportunities. Prior to that, he founded and operated companies within the food and agriculture value chain. He was co-founder and president of Animal Supply Logistics, a distribution company to independent pet supply retailers, which subsequently merged with Animal Supply Co.

Nicholson will have all VWE Operations reporting to him including winemaking, production, warehouse, supply chain, purchasing and IT. 

"I look forward to applying my knowledge to the wine industry and leading Vintage Wine Estates' operations side as the company continues to grow," Nicholson said.

Jeff Nicholson joins the Vintage Wine Estates senior leadership team, which includes Roney; Terry Wheatley, president; Kathy DeVillers, chief financial officer; Marco DiGiulio, chief winemaker; and Marty Peterson, vice president of operations.