Moderator: Rebuilding a Brand
Andrew Douglas
Group Managing Director of Southern Skies Investment Holdings
Andrew is a Wine Warrior and Direct-to-Customer futurist.
Andrew is the Group Managing Director and Founder of Southern Skies. Over his career in the South African wine industry Andrew has gained a reputation as an innovative change agent and entrepreneur, founding new businesses and leading several acquisitions.
Andrew returned to Australia in 2002 to manage the production of Croc Festival – a positive lifestyle youth entertainment initiative staged in remote Indigenous communities across Australia. Andrew arrived in South Africa in 2004 to launch sister event Rock Challenge at the invitation of the World Health Organisation. He went on to produce the 2010 FIFA World Cup campaigns for the V&A Waterfront and Melrose Arch.
With a passion for impactful commerce Andrew is now focussed on building business solutions that enable South African Wine Producers to sell more wine Direct-to-Customer – the most profitable sales channel for wine estates and brand owners.
Since 2021 Andrew has led the acquisition of and/or founded an array of businesses including wine.co.za, cellardirect.co.za, oorskotwyn.co.za, vintelligence.co.za, cybercellar.com, thebeverageclub.co.za and winetrader.co.za.
Andrew served as the Australian Honorary Consul from 2009 to 2011.