Williams Selyem President Resigns

Dana Nigro
Posted: March 27, 1999

Williams Selyem president Jean Arnold has resigned from the Sonoma County winery after a year's tenure, in part due to differences with the owner over the issue of shipping wine directly to consumers. She will leave at the end of March to run her own wine marketing and consulting business. A replacement has not yet been named.

Arnold joined the well-respected California Pinot Noir producer last April after it was purchased by John Dyson, who owns Pebble Ridge Vineyards & Wine Estates. The company's holdings also include Millbrook Winery in New York's Hudson Valley, Villa Pillo Estate in Tuscany, the Pebble Ridge Wine Estates import company and some vineyards in California's North Central Coast.

Dyson and Arnold had different approaches to improving consumer access to fine wines. Dyson has been working to pass direct-shipping legislation in New York state, while Arnold wants to work within the existing "three-tier" distribution system (of producers, distributors and retailers) and integrate all the players. "We both support each other," said Arnold. "We're going towards the same goal, but we just have different ways of working. I'm leaving so he can find someone to do some of the work he wants, and I can continue with a strong focus on what I do."

Arnold has worked at numerous California wineries, including Chalk Hill, Jordan and Chateau Montelena in recent years. In 1992 she formed the Jean Arnold Group, but put it on hold while she worked at Jordan. She will now focus on marketing, sales and strategic planning for ultrapremium and luxury wine brands.

Related stories:

July 2, 1998
Jean Arnold Takes the Reins at Williams Selyem

February 17, 1998
New York Vintner to Buy California's Williams Selyem Winery