Accolade Wines CEO Robert Foye has left the company after four-and-a-half years in the role, effective immediately.

The announcement follows Australian Wine Holdco Limited (AWL) combining Accolade Wines with Pernod Ricard’s Australian, New Zealand and Spanish wine businesses last month.

AWL is a consortium of international institutional investors that comprises funds backed by Bain Capital Special Situations, ICG, Capital Four, Sona Asset Management and Samuel Terry Asset Management.

The group said: “With the Pernod Ricard Wines merger announced, Robert has decided that now is an appropriate time to focus on the next stage of his career and to relocate permanently back to Texas to spend more time with his family.”

Accolade Chairman Ben Clarke will assume the role of executive chairman from September 2, with the Accolade board saying he “will lead the business through the next phase of its evolution”.

Clarke is a former Kraft Foods executive and became chairman of Accolade in April. Accolade is expected to appoint a new permanent CEO when Pernod Ricard’s wine assets join the business.

Foye was appointed CEO of Accolade Wines in 2020, replacing Matthew Stanton. He previously spent four years as COO of Treasury Wine Estates and more than 22 years with The Coca Cola Company.

His sudden exit comes a week after Australian Vintage acting CEO Peter Perrin stepped down from the role due to ill health. He has been replaced by James Williamson.