Enotria names Phillip White as new CEO

Wines and spirits distributor Enotria has appointed Phillip White as its new chief executive officer (CEO).

He takes over a role temporarily held by John Colley, executive chairman and CEO of the company’s owner Majestic Wine Group, since September 2025, after previous incumbent Julian Momen retired.

In his new role, White will be responsible for delivering on all aspects of Enotria’s strategic plan, including enhancing its product portfolio, establishing a ‘best-in-market’ service proposition and expanding its customer base, specifically in national accounts and premium restaurant, hotel and bar groups across the UK.

He brings almost four decades of experience at major alcohol brands, on-trade suppliers and large foodservice distributors to the role, latterly as chief executive of malt whisky specialist, Gordon & MacPhail. He stepped down from that position in 2025 after a year at the helm in order to relocate from Scotland to the south of England.

During almost 11 years at global spirits giant Bacardi, White spent three years as director of sales for on-trade retail and a similar stint as its country manager for the Republic of Ireland before joining Brakes in 2013.

After seven-and-a-half years in a number of director roles, including two years as Brakes’ divisional director for hospitality and three-and-a-half years as director, corporate and logistics, White moved to the foodservice distributor, Sysco Corporation in 2020. He initially served as the managing director of Kent Frozen Foods (KFF) and later took on additional responsibility for its Medina Foodservice business.

He joins Enotria nine months on from its acquisition by Majestic Wine Group for an undisclosed sum. Last September, Enotria returned to its original name from Enotria&Coe, which it was known as for a decade after it bought Coe Vintners.

In October, it signed an agreement to become the exclusive UK distributor for Argentinian winery, Catena Zapata, as part of plans to enhance its portfolio.

Majestic’s Colley said: “Phillip has demonstrated what a brilliant operator he is throughout his career, and he brings with him a huge amount of experience and expertise across the on-trade, distribution, supply chain and logistics – all of which make him the perfect candidate to lead Enotria into its next phase of growth.

“We’re at the start of another important and transformational year for the Enotria business. We have already made solid progress over the past nine months, but I am really looking forward to working with Phillip and his team to accelerate that momentum and deliver on our exciting plans.”

White added: “The opportunity is clear: combine a standout premium portfolio with consistently exceptional service and be the partner our customers rely on to help them thrive in today’s market. I am really looking forward to getting back into the wholesale on-trade sector, especially with a business as special as Enotria.”

Enotria was founded as Enotria Wines by Remo Nardone in 1972 and works with a more than 300 wine producers, including more than 200 exclusive agency brands. The business supplies restaurants, hotels and hospitality venues, including Gaucho, Rick Stein, Hotel du Vin/Malmaison, Bancone and L’Enclume.

Enotria has grown across all supply channels during the past two decades, buying Wheeler Cellars in 2008, Great Western Wine – now trading from its Bath shop as the Great Wine Co – in 2010, and Coe Vintners in 2015.

Majestic was founded in 1980 and in 2019 separated from Naked Wines following its sale to Fortress Investment Group.

In 2024, Majestic paid £6.5m to acquire Vagabond Wines out of administration, with the deal encompassing buying nine of Vagabond’s bars in London and Birmingham in April, saving 171 jobs.