The recently-resigned head of the New Zealand stock exchange has just bought a winery in the country’s prime Pinot Noir region.
After 10 years as CEO of the NZX, Mark Weldon made headlines when he resigned last week.
Now, days later, he has announced his purchase of Olssen’s of Bannockburn in Felton Road, Central Otago.
Weldon, a former Olympic swimmer and law graduate, has an impressive CV but no experience of the wine industry.
‘The vineyard, Jen Parr the winemaker, and the wines themselves are amazing, and we have every intention of investing to maintain and improve the focus on quality wines,’ Weldon said.
‘We believe deeply in the vineyard, the old vines, the quality of the Bannockburn sub-region, and the future of the estate.’
Heather McPherson, co-founder of Olssen’s, will continue to play a role in the winery under Weldon’s ownership, after 22 years running the business.
The sum paid has not been disclosed.
Written by Rebecca Gibb in Auckland
