Last month the firm announced it would sub-divide its business into five units, headed by John Osborne, to better serve Tesco global, UK retailers (which incorporates the remainder of the major multiples), major specialists (which fits with Majestic and others), cash and carry and long drinks including world beers, ginger beers and specialist cider.

Sales director John Osborne said: "We have spent the last few months analysing how to best serve our customers and the result is that we now have five distinct, channel-specific business units, each of which is fully supported by dedicated resource in our marketing, category insight and supply chain teams. It's an exciting time for PLB and we're thrilled to have been able to recruit people with the right skills in order to further improve our customer service."

Marie Knight has been appointed channel controller for PLB's premium off-trade and online division.
Knight has spent the last year working for Hijos de Antonio Barcelo in Madrid, where she was responsible for sales to the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia. Prior to this, she spent 11 years at Thierry's Wine Services.

Knight will have direct account responsibility for Waitrose, but will also ensure the division has the right strategy in place to service M&S, Majestic and Ocado.

Katie Thompson joins PLB as account manager for Sainsbury's, and will work with national account manager Rob Harrison.

Thompson has spent the last two years working for ASDA and was most recently in charge of the grocer's selection of own label, Italian and South African wines, plus bag-in-box, lower alcohol and sparkling ranges.

Toby Hartley-Nadhar joins PLB as national account manager for the the Co-operative and ASDA accounts. He spent the last three years working at Thierry's Wine Services as national account manager for ASDA and before this worked at FMCG brand Muller.

Philip Critchley will work with Hartley-Nadhar to manage PLB's the Co-operative and ASDA accounts. Critchley spent the last two years at the Co-operative on their business management graduate scheme as junior wine buyer.