John has worked in the wine business all his life. He has lived in France, Sri Lanka, Spain and the UK and is known for setting up clubs such as Dingwalls, Zanzibar, 192 and The Groucho Club. In the late 60’s he was managing director of Corney & Barrow city wine merchants. He is considered responsible for introducing the great wines of Pomerol, including Pétrus, Trotanoy and Lafleur to the UK.  In 1988 he set up John Armit Wines, with a staff of 3, and the business has flourished and diversified, now employing over 30 people and trading as armit.

John looks after a select number of customers and advises a number of the world's foremost collectors and investors. His friendship with some of the world's greatest winemakers and his detailed knowledge of Bordeaux has been key to the success of armit.

IAN RONALD - CEO

Ian Ronald joined as Chief Executive of armit in 2004.  An experienced retailer with sector knowledge of wine, restaurants and children’s books, he has particular expertise in selling direct by catalogues and the Internet. Ian was Chief Executive of The Wine Society for five years between 1997 and 2002, and has also worked for Pizza Hut, BP and Scholastic Inc.

Ian is responsible for all apects of business operation, working closely with the Chairman on strategy and business development.

GRAHAM JEFFS - Finance Director

Graham joined armit in March 2006 on a part time basis, balancing a directorship of a Spanish AIM listed property company with portfolio work for a variety of clients, including armit. Before going freelance in 1997, Graham was FD of Robert Dyas for 10 years and before that Group Financial Planning Manager for Sealink British Ferries. Graham lives in Sussex.

NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Nigel Rich - CBE Chairman of Exel plc and Hamptons International and former MD of Jardine Matheson Holdings and Group CEO of Trafalgar House.

Sir David Davies - Chairman of EFG Private Bank and former Chairman and Chief Executive roles with Johnson Matthey,Charter Consolidated, the Hill Samuel Group, Hong Kong Land and Jardine Matheson.

Tony Mackintosh - director of The Bush Bar and Grill and Grand Union Public House and Chairman of The London Sinfonietta and Deputy Chair of The PRS Foundation for new music. He was a co-founder and ran the famous Notting Hill Restaurant and Bar, 192 and of The Groucho Club.

Rob Lilley - founder Director of Ehrmanns Wine Shippers, now the Ehrmanns Group but since the late 1980s he has been involved with American Healthcare companies, developing sales and marketing in Europe. Since 1997, Senior Vice President of global sales and marketing for the Digene Corporation, a bio-technology company traded on Nasdaq.

William Guinness - Chairman of Sibir Energy and Boston Life Sciences and a wide portfolio of other business interests.