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Bonhams boosts UK and Europe with new head of wine
Auction house Bonhams has appointed a new head of wine for the UK and Europe, based in the UK.
Mick O’Connell MW, who graduating from the Institute of Masters of Wine in 2016 as Ireland’s youngest Master of Wine, will head up the auction UK and European fine wine operations, and spearhead growth strategies across the region.
O’Connell was the founder of Irish start-up wine retail group Neighbourhood Wine, having spent time as a wine portfolio developer for Findlater & Co. He was also a retail manager for Handford Wines, and a wine columnist for the Ireland’s Business Post, as well as a head judge for the International Wine & Spirits Competition.
Amayès Aouli, Bonhams’ global head of wine & spirits welcomed O’Connell, who he described as a highly respected professional in the industry
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“The UK & Europe regions are crucial for Bonhams’ growth, and Mick’s wealth of experience and knowledge will support the expansion of Bonhams’ Wine & Spirits department,” he said.
O’Connell said he was thrilled to be joining a strong global team at such an exciting time for Wine & Spirits and looked forward to using his expertise across the trade to “enhance the success of this prestigious auction house committed to growth across the UK & Europe and beyond.”
The move is the latest in Bonhams’ continued investment in its wine & spirits department, following last year’s appointment of Amayès Aouli as global head of wine & spirits in January 2024. Other recent appointments include Terrence Tang to head up its key Asia operations, joining as Bonham’s head of wine & spirits from Zachys Wine Auctions, and a reshuffle of its US Wine & Spirits department to drive expansion which included the promotion of Bonhams veteran Marie Keep to heading up for wine across Bonhams Americas, Louis Krieger appointed as global business director for Bonhams wine and spirits and the appointment of Amelia Krusell as a senior specialist for fine wines based in New York.
In an interview with db, last year, Aouli also revealed his plans to innovate and unite Bonham’s local expertise with its global footprint, as well as creating new formats of sales and partnering with producers and charitable organisation.
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