Vivien Gay, Founder and CEO
Vivien is a wine industry maverick with more than 20-years experience building brands through innovative and aggressive sales and marketing strategies. Vivien’s extensive wine industry career has included leadership roles at wineries, distributorships and in her own cause-related marketing firm, The Isosceles Group. She most recently directed European and US sales and marketing for Clos Du Val Company, successfully repositioning the Napa product line through all channels of distribution. At The Isosceles Group she developed innovative marketing strategies for such diverse clients as, Diageo, Clos du Bois, Graham's Port, Sokol Blosser, Domaine St. George and Firesteed. Directing sales and marketing efforts within wineries, Vivien built significant brands and increased sales for Callaway Vineyards and Winery, St. Supéry and Sonoma-Cutrer. Her early wine career included management roles at Southern Wine & Spirits and as a retail buyer in San Francisco.
Liz Cassanos, Vice President Marketing
Liz brings more than 20 years of marketing-communications experience from diverse industries to Vinum Global. For the last seven years, she has focused on the wine industry, running her own consulting firm and prior to that as Director of Public Relations for The Terlato Wine Group and Paterno Wines International, where she worked with such world-class brands as GAJA, Pio Cesare, M. Chapoutier, Michel Laroche, Santa Margherita, Rochioli and Sokol Blosser. Prior to moving into the world of wine, Liz served as vice president of corporate relations for national financial services company where she developed and implemented corporate and brand positioning programs overseeing national advertising, sponsorship, media and community relations. In her extensive agency experience, she developed breakthrough corporate positioning programs, media-trained top executives, and directed highly visible issue management campaigns for clients ranging from Sara Lee Corporation, Monsanto, Aetna Healthcare and Kemper Corporation to small start-ups and foundations.
Jonathan Apt, Regional Sales and Marketing Director, brings outstanding wine industry experience and an entrepreneurial spirit to Vinum Global. He began his career in the hospitality industry working his way up from restaurant management positions to the Director of Food and Beverage at several hotels including Renaissance Stanford Court in San Francisco, the Dallas Marriott Market Center and Hotel Laguna, in Laguna Beach California. Under his leadership, these properties earned the Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” and the restaurants merited Dirona and Zagat listings. Pursuing his interest in the wine industry, he joined the California fine wine wholesaler American Wines, as a Fine Wine Specialist and was promoted to Import Manager for three Southern California Counties. Deepening his understanding of the supply side, he joined Pezzi King Vineyards, a Sonoma California winery serving as Director of Sales and Marketing.
Mitchell Boyd, Regional Sales & Marketing Director. Building distribution and sales for domestic and imported wine brands, Mitch’s experience extends beyond the traditional three tier system to include export and direct sales. Mitch proved himself working with Heck Estates, representing Kenwood Vineyards, Valley of the Moon Winery, Lake Sonoma Winery and Korbel Brandy. He worked his way up from the tasting room, assisting in various marketing, education and training roles, to become the International Sales & Marketing Manager responsible for opening distribution and managing sales in Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Eager to continue his wine industry education, Mitch joined Settesoli, a Sicilian wine cooperative under the direction of Diego Planeta, as the Manager of the Americas where he was responsible for developing the U.S., Canadian and South and Central American markets. Mitch managed the brand’s relationship with Palm Bay Imports, overseeing strategic planning, marketing and sales in the U.S. Additionally he established distribution and sales networks in Canada, Central America and South America. Most recently Mitch served as the National Sales and Marketing Director of Calistoga Cellars.
Ellen C. Forrest, Finance and Operations Manager, is a central member of the team, bringing diverse experience and a high level of expertise to serve Vinum Global’s clients and growing sales force. Ellen joins Vinum from Scott Street Portfolio where she
managed the finance, logistics, customer service and human resources for the wine importer. Her background includes both accounting and human resource roles, in industries ranging from fine wine, to special events and entertainment. Her passion for wine included studies of viniculture and enology at University of California, Davis.
Peter Nevin, Vice President Information Technology
Peter is a technology orientated executive within the wine industry with some 25 years of experience. He has worked with such companies as Sonoma-Cutrer and Brown Forman where he developed innovative programs for tracking and managing sales. He has developed strategies and architectures for a number of varying size wineries and wine corporations over the years. He is currently consulting to clients within the wine industry.