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Champagne Taittinger appoints ex-Moet Hennessy executive to lead UK business

Published:  07 January, 2014

Champagne Taittinger has appointed former Moet Hennessy executive Kevin McKee, to lead its UK business.

From this month, McKee will work with Taittinger's sole agents in the UK, Hatch Mansfield, with the aim of consulting right across the wine industry. The brand will have a primary focus on the on-trade in an effort to help trade and consumers "fully connect" with the brand as well as developing opportunities for the Champagne house.

McKee said: "I am delighted to be working with a family owned house with such a rich history, world-wide reputation and legion of Champagne aficionados. I have been overwhelmed by the complimentary reactions from my many contacts within the drinks industry to both Taittinger and Hatch Mansfield. It's going to be a new challenge, but with such outstanding wines and backing of the great team in Hatch Mansfield, a challenge I am very much looking forward to."

McKee was senior national account manager at Moet Hennessy where he was responsible for major national on-trade groups and wholesale routes to market.

He added, "I am a great admirer of the light and elegant Chardonnay based wines of Champagne Taittinger and believe their range of cuvées offers an outstanding opportunity for a breadth of listings that few other houses can match. I know the family would only put their name to wines of commensurate quality and style."

Patrick McGrath, managing director at Hatch Mansfield commented, "Kevin will be a great asset to the Hatch Mansfield team and brings with him a wealth of experience which will help us strengthen our position in the UK on-trade in particular."

McKee, who has a degree Biochemistry, has been working in the drinks industry since 1984 with Grolsch, Jim Beam brands and Seagrams before joining Ruinart in 2001. While with Ruinart he worked to grow the brand outside London, before moving to Moet Hennessy in 2006.

The new role is an adaptation of the Taittinger ambassador role previously held by Justin Llewelyn who died in 2012.

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