Willamette Valley Vineyards (NASDAQ: WVVI, WVVIP), the Salem Hills, Ore.-based estate winery and one of Oregon's foremost Pinot Noir producers, has appointed John Hazlett as Chief Financial Officer, effective May 21, 2026.
Hazlett brings more than 25 years of financial leadership experience to the role. In his capacity as CFO, he will assume responsibility for financial strategy, regulatory reporting, and compliance across the publicly traded winery's operations. The company did not disclose compensation terms or the circumstances surrounding the departure of any prior finance chief.
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the U.S. premium wine segment, which has faced sustained volume pressure as younger consumers shift spending toward spirits, ready-to-drink cocktails, and non-alcoholic alternatives. Oregon's Willamette Valley appellation has nonetheless maintained a premium pricing position, with estate Pinot Noir commanding above-average bottle prices relative to broader domestic wine categories. For a NASDAQ-listed winery of Willamette Valley Vineyards' scale, CFO continuity carries added weight given obligations around quarterly disclosure and investor relations. The company's dual share structure — common shares (WVVI) and preferred shares (WVVIP) — underscores the financial complexity the incoming executive will manage.
The hire signals a focus on shoring up the financial leadership bench as the broader alcoholic beverages sector navigates margin headwinds tied to rising input costs, including glass, cork, and logistics. Willamette Valley Vineyards, which farms estate vineyards across the Eola-Amity Hills and other Willamette Valley sub-appellations, has historically emphasized direct-to-consumer sales — a channel that requires rigorous financial oversight to optimise yield per visitor and wine club retention rates.
Industry observers tracking executive appointments across the U.S. wine and spirits space note that operators with dual-class public share structures increasingly prioritise CFO candidates with capital markets fluency alongside traditional accounting credentials. Willamette Valley Vineyards has not issued updated financial guidance in conjunction with the announcement.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
