Chief Executive Officer

Mark has been CEO of VINPRO since October 2021. During this time, he has focused on building a strong team and culture, while ensuring that clients’ expectations are consistently met or exceeded across all services.

Mark is a firm believer in people-based leadership and that getting the right people on board is the critical factor to success. Mark's strategic vision is to cement VINPRO as the trusted wine services partner in Central Otago by understanding and adapting to constantly changing industry dynamics and client needs. Investing in people, innovation and infrastructure is essential to achieving this vision. 

With close to three decades of experience spanning commercial, sales, marketing, and general management, most recently Mark spent 13 years with Fonterra in New Zealand and internationally, gaining broad leadership and industry expertise.

Beyond the office, Mark values time with his family and embraces the Central Otago lifestyle, enjoying snowboarding, hiking, trail running, boating, and the region’s renowned wines.

General Manager of Operations

After completing wine studies in Marlborough in 2004 Jody spent 2 years as a travelling winemaker soaking up as much culture and winemaking knowledge as possible. These travels lead him to Central Otago in 2007 where he has been based ever since. This did not mean an end to the travel as he continued to participate in overseas harvests during the quiet winter months in Central Otago. Jody worked his way through the ranks of the local industry until becoming head winemaker at Terra Sancta in 2015. After 3 years in this role Jody transitioned from winemaking to business management and has since gone on to join VINPRO as General Manager of Operations. This combination of winemaking and business experience has Jody well placed to help VINPRO deliver on its position as a critical part of the Central Otago wine industry.

Born in Fiordland, Jody loves the outdoors and given the choice, would take lakes and mountains over the beach, every time.

Financial Controller

Johnathan Brass is VINPRO’s Financial Controller, bringing more than 15 years of experience in accounting, finance, and operations. He blends technical expertise with a strategic mindset, ensuring VINPRO’s financial health supports its long-term vision. From budgeting and forecasting to providing commercial insight, Johnathan thrives on the variety his role offers and the difference it makes.

Before joining VINPRO, Johnathan was Chief Operating Officer at Arrowform Limited, where he led operations for over three years, improving processes and strengthening performance. His earlier career includes senior accounting roles at ICL Chartered Accountants and Polson Higgs, along with finance positions at Mainland Poultry Limited and King’s College London. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of Otago and is a Chartered Accountant.

Born in Invercargill, raised in Dunedin, and settled in Cromwell for the past 12 years, Johnathan loves the blend of community, nature, and opportunity that Central Otago offers. Outside the office, you might find him hunting for historic coins and banknotes, plotting world domination over a game of Risk or Catan, or enthusiastically celebrating Guy Fawkes Day — which he insists is the best holiday of the year.

Head of Marketing & Business Development

Dayrel leads marketing, brand, and business development at VINPRO, connecting services to the right audiences through creativity, strategic insight, and measurable outcomes. She thrives on the dynamic nature of the wine industry and the opportunities her role provides to shape the company’s future.

With extensive leadership experience across wine, FMCG, hospitality, tourism, and research and development, Dayrel excels at building from the ground up — turning data into profitable outcomes and delivering strategic growth. Her career highlights include multi-SKU product rollouts, securing strategic partnerships, and driving sustained revenue growth.

While born and raised in Timaru, Dayrel’s first home was a mudbrick house in St Bathans. Eternally optimistic, she now lives with her family in Springvale, working to transform an old riverbed into a sustainable lifestyle block.

Bottling Manager

Blair Sinclair is VINPRO’s Bottling Manager, leading the planning, production, and client liaison for all bottling projects. Since joining VINPRO in June 2023, Blair has been focused on ensuring each bottling run is efficient, high quality, and delivered on time. His role spans short and long-term production planning, staff recruitment, process improvement, and asset care — all underpinned by a commitment to teamwork and client satisfaction.

Blair’s career spans over 30 years, primarily with Fonterra, where he held senior operational roles including Plant Manager, overseeing the final packing of over 400,000 tonnes of dairy products annually and managing a workforce of 100. His operational expertise is paired with a philosophy that people are a company’s greatest asset. He believes leadership is about connecting with people, sharing challenges, and celebrating successes together.

For Blair, the perfect day in the bottling hall is one where production is running smoothly, music is playing, and laughter fills the air. Away from work, he shares a long-standing tradition of family travel — for over 13 years he and his sister’s families have holidayed together, from road trips across New Zealand to cruises around the Pacific and beyond, building memories that last a lifetime.

Blair lives by the principle: "Don’t be afraid to open doors by yourself; once they’re open, people will follow you."

Warehouse Manager

Corey Wilson is VINPRO’s highly experienced Warehouse & Logistics Manager, overseeing the flow of wine and dry goods in and out of the warehouse. Since joining VINPRO in June 2017, Corey has been the steady hand, keeping operations running smoothly. His deep understanding of storage conditions, supply chain logistics, and client needs means wine arrives in perfect condition — whether across New Zealand or further afield.

Corey brings 35 years of industry experience, including 25 years in hospitality as a chef and 10 years as Purchasing & Distribution Manager at Terrace Distributors Alexandra. This diverse background gives him a unique perspective on operational excellence and customer service.

Corey thrives on variety and enjoys the rhythm of a busy warehouse — and occasionally looking busy while driving a forklift. Outside of work, Corey channels his precision and creativity into woodworking, crafting projects with the same care he brings to managing VINPRO’s warehouse and logistics team

Senior Winemaker

After swapping the green fields of Ireland for the rugged landscapes of New Zealand, Austin found his true calling in the vineyards of Central Otago. In 2006, he made the leap across the world to study Wine Science at Auckland University, drawn by a growing fascination with the art and science of winemaking.

Austin’s journey has been a global one—shaped by vintages in Burgundy, Austria, the USA, and Australia—but it is in Central Otago that he found a place that felt like home. Over the years, with hands-on experience at Chard Farm, Terra Sancta, and Prophet’s Rock, Austin developed a style rooted in respect for the land and the desire to let each vineyard’s story shine through in the glass.

Today, as Senior Winemaker at VINPRO, Austin channels his passion and experience into crafting wines that capture the unique soul of Central Otago. "There is nowhere quite like Central Otago – it is a magical place to live and make wine in," he says—a belief reflected in every bottle he helps to create.