Wine Australia's Yvonne May dies

By Erin Smith

Published: 01 September, 2014

Yvonne May, Wine Australia's European director has lost her battle against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia cancer and passed away over the weekend.

Yvonne May

Andreas Clark the acting chief executive at Australian Grape and Wine Authority said in statement: "It is with deep sadness that we announce that our dearly loved colleague and friend Yvonne May, who has for the last few months been battling illness, passed away over the weekend. Yvonne was a tireless and passionate ambassador for our Australian wine community in her role as Regional Director - UK and Europe. We were richer for having her in our lives but now poorer with her leaving us much too soon."

A private family funeral will be held for May. Our thoughts and condolences are with David, Yvonne's husband and her family, friends and colleagues. For those wishing to send flowers, per Yvonne's request, she asked that donations be made to The Benevolent Charity instead.

May was appointed as regional director for the UK/ Europe in 2010 and started at Wine Australia in January 2011. In her years spent working with Wine Australia she helped to increase the prominence of Australian wine in the UK market and across Europe. Prior to that she work with her husband David at Lindsay May PR for 12 years as Australian specialist.

She announced a leave of absence in April of this year to focus on her treatment and James Gosper was appointed to oversee the London-based team in the interim. Who will be managing the London-based team will be decided in due course. The regional director for Australia, Asia and Emerging Markets, Aaron Brasher, is now overseeing the UK/Europe until further notice.

For any queries over UK or European initiatives, please contact Hannah Silverman by email or by phone at +44 (0)207 887 5190. Alternatively you can contact the London-based team on +44 (0)207 887 5259.

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