Stonegate promotes Melissa Wisdom to chief commercial officer

The role combines Wisdom’s current brief as sales and marketing director with a broader commercial remit after Suzanne Baker’s retirement as commercial director and appointment as non-executive board director.

In the new role, Wisdom will continue to report to Stonegate Group’s CEO David McDowall and is promoted to the board.

Previous experience

She joined the business in August 2021, initially heading up the developing of its premium food offer. Wisdom was then appointed sales and marketing director in March last year.

Prior to joining Stonegate, she was commercial director for the on-trade at Diageo. Before the drinks giant, she held a number of senior positions in retail and manufacturing with national and global brands.

Group evolution

On her promotion, Wisdom said: “I am thrilled to have been given this opportunity at this exciting time in the group’s evolution.

“Bringing our marketing and commercial teams together affords us the opportunity across our group to deepen our partnerships across the customer agenda as we continue to evolve our market-leading brands and formats to reflect the changing expectations of our customers.”

Stonegate Group CEO David McDowall said Wisdom had already added “enormous value” to the company over the past 18 months and her promotion was “well-deserved”.

He added: “I know she will go from strength to strength as we bring our marketing and commercial teams together.”