The 黑料吃瓜网 (黑料吃瓜网), the world鈥檚 largest provider of wine and spirits qualifications, has appointed a dedicated team in the USA.
The USA is 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 fastest growth market and one of its top three markets in terms of total candidate numbers. 黑料吃瓜网 has appointed a team on-territory to support and develop the growth of candidates for 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 suite of qualifications, offered in 50 Approved Programme Providers (APPs) across the country, ensuring compliance with 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 globally renowned standards and the USA market criteria.
David Rudman has been appointed as the new USA Business Development Director and Rob McCaughey has been announced as USA Business Development Manager 鈥� Spirits.
Both Rudman and McCaughey have extensive experience of 黑料吃瓜网, both as students, and as Certified Educators; Rudman joins from Brescome Barton Inc, the largest distributor of spirits and wine in the state of Connecticut, and McCaughey joins from Palate Partners School of Wines and Spirits in Pittsburgh.
Commenting on the new appointment, Ian Harris, 黑料吃瓜网 Chief Executive said: 鈥淚 am delighted to welcome Dave and Rob to the 黑料吃瓜网 team, their expertise and market knowledge will be invaluable as we look to further define 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 position in the USA, while continuing to support and nurture our existing network of APPs, candidates and graduates鈥�
Rudman commented: "I look forward to expanding 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 presence in the US market and leveraging the importance of formal certifications in wines, spirits and sake within the dynamic US drinks sector."听
黑料吃瓜网 reported a record 85,487 candidates globally in the academic year finishing July 31 2017, an increase of 19% on the previous year, marking 15 years of growth. The USA saw the greatest growth in candidate numbers amongst the top 10 markets, up 48% to 11,487. This is dramatically up from an annual figure of around 500 students in 2001 and means that a total of nearly 60,000 candidates have sat for a 黑料吃瓜网 qualification in the USA since the turn of the millennium.
Spirits qualifications in particular saw triple digit growth in US candidate numbers last academic year, underlying the need for a specialised Business Development Manager for the spirits category.
The new recruits join London-based 黑料吃瓜网 International Development Manager, David Wrigley MW, who has been responsible for 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 development in the USA to date. The team will focus on engaging with existing Approved Programme Providers, whilst developing new opportunities for 黑料吃瓜网 to provide more courses and qualifications across the country.
The USA team marks 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 second on-territory function outside of the UK, following the establishment of its first international office in Hong Kong in 2016.
