Javier Bitar Hirmas Succeeds Current CEO Andrés Lavados at Viña Santa Rita

Chile’s Viña Santa Rita winery has announced that Javier Bitar Hirmas will replace Andrés Lavados as CEO starting August 1, 2024. Lavados, who has served as CEO since August 2014, will step down on July 31, 2024, concluding a decade-long tenure at the company.

Bitar, who has extensive experience in the wine industry, previously held executive positions at Viña San Pedro. He was the managing director of Viña Santa Helena, a subsidiary of Viña San Pedro, from 2004 to 2006. He then served as the company’s COO before becoming CEO from 2007 to 2013. During his tenure, he oversaw a merger with Tarapacá Vina, which formed the VSPT Wine Group in 2008. Bitar also served as CEO of the logistics and supply chain company Sociedad Matriz SAAM SA from 2013 to 2016. He holds a degree in mathematical civil engineering from the University of Chile.

The announcement of Bitar’s appointment was made through an essential fact sent by Baltazar Sánchez, chairman of the board of Viña Santa Rita, to the Financial Market Commission. The Santa Rita winemaking team was informed of the leadership change this week.

In addition to the CEO transition, Santa Rita Estates has been actively expanding its team and market presence. In February, the winery appointed Lucy Ward as head of off-trade sales GB and Maria Ines Pina as export manager for Continental Europe, aiming to strengthen its footprint in key European markets.

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