Johnny Symington, our Chairman, to retire after 40 years in the company
Johnny Symington, Chairman of Symington Family Estates since 2019, is retiring after 40 years working alongside members of the 3rd, 4th and 5th generations of his family.
His cousin Rupert has been appointed Chairman, having previously been CEO. His cousin and Head Winemaker, Charles, has become co-CEO together with 5th generation member, Rob.
Johnny was born in Porto in 1960, becoming one of the fourth generations of Symingtons raised in the port trade, although his ancestry in port dates back more than three centuries and 13 generations to 1652 through his great-grandmother, Beatriz Leitão de Carvalhosa Atkinson. After studying in both Portugal and the UK, Johnny worked in London for a high-tech medical firm before returning to Porto in 1985 to join the family business. He was subsequently appointed Commercial Director and in 1994 was appointed Joint Managing Director. In these roles, Johnny’s drive, vision and commitment made a remarkable contribution – alongside his father, uncles and cousins – to an extraordinary period of growth and successes for Symington Family Estates. Johnny was the Honorary British Consul in Porto from 2005 to 2013 and was honoured by Her Majesty The Queen with an MBE for his services to the community in Northern Portugal. In 2019, Johnny became Chairman of Symington Family Estates, following the retirement of his cousin Paul.
Symington Family Estates has seen a great transformation over the last 40 years since Johnny joined the company. The family’s four historic port brands – Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s – have launched a remarkable series of premium products and designs aimed at strengthening relationships with existing consumers and attracting a new generation. The family began producing still wines in 1999 and, over the last 25 years, they have developed an exciting portfolio of wines produced from the Douro, Alentejo, and Vinho Verde regions in Portugal, and sparkling wine from Hampshire in the UK. The wine tourism side of the business has expanded too, particularly in the last few years under Johnny’s leadership. This includes opening two restaurants at the family’s Quinta do Bomfim estate in the Douro, a visitor centre at Quinta da Fonte Souto in the Alentejo, and an exciting new project soon to be launched in downtown Porto.
“The past 40 years have been a time of incredible progress, innovation and growth. Our company has gone through several total transformations over the last few decades, which has enabled us to become more relevant and successful in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive market. What has impressed me most over the years are the people who make things happen. Despite the changing times, their motivation, adaptability and commitment have shaped our business for the better. Their resilience and courage through the covid pandemic was truly impressive. I’m filled with confidence in those that will succeed me and the future of our company. I’m certain that our long-standing legacy and reputation for quality and reliability will continue. We will maintain our ability to adapt to a world that may well change as much in the next 40 years as it has in the last 40.” – Johnny Symington.
