Guy Tapernoux has succeeded Pernod Ricard's Philippe Mouton as president of the European Spirits Organisation . He was elected for a period of two years at a CEPS general assembly . Tapernoux became managing director of Bacardi-Martini (Benelux) in 1989, going on to Boisset in France, and he is currently with leading Belgian spirits producer and distributor Bruggeman NV. He was also chairman of the Belgian Federation of Wines & Spirits from 2001-2006 and chairman of the European Federation of Importers of Wine & Spirits from 2002-2005. CEPS is the representative body for the spirits industry at the European level. Its membership comprises 37 national associations representing the industry in 29 countries, as well as a group of leading spirits-producing companies.

The success of St -Germain elderflower liqueur has prompted parent company Cooper Spirits to appoint Chad Wiltgen vice-president of sales, western US. Based in Los Angeles, Wiltgen began his career at UDV - now Diageo - as an ambassador for Jose Cuervo tequila.

Maison Louis Latour has appointed Dan Townsend managing director of its UK distribution arm, Louis Latour Agencies. Townsend left Constellation Europe in 2007, having previously held senior positions at Scottish & Newcastle and Matthew Clark.

Distell has appointed Anthony Mills head of marketing for its premium South African cider brand, Savanna. Forty-two -year-old Mills, from New Zealand, previously worked for NZ winery Cable Bay, Wingara Wine Group and Mentzendorff in the UK.

German wine marketer Racke has appointed Pablo Navarro export director, Latin America, based in Chile. Formerly regional export manager with Concha y Toro, Navarro will focus on Racke's joint venture brands Espiritu de Chile and Golden Kaan, as well as the Italian Vitae range, with a focus on the emerging Brazilian and Mexican markets.

Wine Intelligence has made two significant appointments. David Scotland, who has worked for John Harvey & Sons, IDV (Cinzano), Percy Fox and latterly as a main board director of Allied Domecq, becomes non-executive chairman. Graham Holter, formerly William Reed Business Media's group editor of Drinks International, Off Licence News and Wine & Spirit , becomes associate director, publishing.

Patrick Healy, who headed Fetzer Vineyards' sustainable business practices, passed away in November, aged 59, after a long battle with cancer. He was a well-known figure in the California wine industry and enabled the Brown-Forman subsidiary to become a zero -waste company. He reduced waste destined for landfill by 95 per cent.