Liquor Marketing Group (LMG) has announced Chief Executive Officer Gavin Saunders is leaving the business.

Saunders had been with LMG for nearly 14 years. He joined the membership-owned retail liquor group in 2012 as Chief Financial Officer before serving as CEO for almost a decade. 

General Manager of Merchandising and Marketing Damien Page has been appointed as Saunders’ successor, effective 1 September 2026. Page joined LMG in 2013 and has led the group’s merchandising and marketing functions for the past 13 years.

LMG Chairman Wayne Bayfield said: “Gavin joined LMG nearly 14 years ago, initially in the role of CFO. He has now served as CEO for close to a decade. He has led his team through remarkable times – through COVID-19, industry rationalisation and dramatically changing consumer buying habits. Through that, LMG is a significantly stronger enterprise – delivering members performance ahead of market growth whilst building important new services for members.”

“To get this type of performance you need to build strong teams, and the Board is delighted to announce that Damien Page, our current General Manager of Merchandising and Marketing, will be LMG’s new CEO. Damien will be just the third CEO of LMG in the last 18 years.”

Saunders said: “LMG is an extraordinary organisation which I have had the great honour of leading for the past 10 years. It has been a privilege to be trusted by LMG members to support them achieve their business goals, which is matched by the dedication of the LMG team to deliver for the cause, being independent liquor retail.

“The LMG team have developed some great products and delivered market leading results, and now is the right time to pass the reins to a prime driver of LMG success – Damien Page.”