Former CEO and MD of The Reject Shop, Ross Sudano, has been appointed as the new CEO of Tahbilk Group, the first person outside the family to hold the role. 

Sudano will succeed incumbent, fourth-generation Alister Purbrick, who will retire this June. 

“After 43 years running my family businesses, Tahbilk and the Tahbilk Group, it’s time for me to pass the baton on,” said Purbrick. 

As the new CEO of Victoria’s oldest family-owned winery, Sudano will report to the board and oversee the group’s operations based in the Nagambie Lakes region of Victoria. He will also be based at Tahbilk’s corporate office in Melbourne. 

Prior to Tahbilk, Sudano held several CEO positions across a range of industries, including at BP Australia and Foodland Associated Limited. In his recent role as CEO and MD of The Reject Shop, Sudano oversaw a strategic realignment, and successes included reducing the cost of business over his five-year tenure, generating $24 million per annum in savings alone. 

“We are certain that his extensive and proven business acumen and leadership skills will build on the successes achieved over 162 years of operation.”