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Our Team

At Armit Wines, we are proud to work with some of the most talented people in the industry. All of our colleagues have an unmistakable passion for wine and the amazing producers we work with. We are always on the lookout for dynamic personalities with an unmistakable passion for wine, an eye for new trends, a profound understanding of our portfolio and an appreciation of quality and personal relationships.
DIRECTORS
Brett Fleming
Managing Director
Brett has spent his entire working life in the wine industry. He trained as a winemaker back in his native New Zealand before moving to Europe, making wines predominantly in France. Much of his career has been spent building premium wine brands on a global scale on behalf of iconic producers and, after being based in the UK for over 35 years, has a deep knowledge of the UK market. An accomplished international wine judge, Brett joined the Armit family in November 2019 with the vision to turn Armit into a truly world class premium distributor of Iconic brands. His outside interests are his family, golf (admittedly terrible!), drinking fine wine with friends, cooking and entertaining, gardening and a holiday somewhere hot with a pool and a beer!
SALES
Peter Valiunas
Head of High Net Worth Sales
Peter has been with Armit since 2014 when he transitioned into the world of fine wine after a career in the City. He has had a fondness for all things vinous from an early age, with a predilection for the Old World and Burgundy in particular. He was lucky enough to explore many of Burgundy’s cellars while living in Geneva in the early ‘90s and is agnostic on geography and grape variety when it comes to tasting - as long as a wine is well made and interesting!  The last few years have been an amazing opportunity for him to explore the fine wines of Italy.  In his spare time Peter loves to read and appreciate his wife’s fine cuisine - perhaps a bit too much!
William Russell
Private Client Account Manager
Following a Master’s degree in Shakespeare at University College London, William entered the world of rare books and manuscripts. Working in Hamburg, he discovered the great wines of Germany and picked grapes on the Mosel. With his new-found passion, William joined the wine department at Christie’s, first as an intern and then in client strategy. He joined Armit Wines in 2018 and holds a WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits. Always partial to a good Burgundy, Barolo or Barbaresco, William also loves Cabernet Franc from the Loire and Cru Beaujolais. Outside of the day job William is a keen musician and enjoys playing and collecting vintage guitars.
Benjamin Stanley
Private Client Account Manager
As the newest member of Armit, Ben is helping with all aspects in the fine wine team. Having previous experience working for other London based wine merchants in their sales teams. When not indulging in the wines of the Bordeaux, Napa, Burgundy or Rhone, Ben spends his free time playing cricket and golf as well as exploring as many of London’s wine bars and restaurants as possible.
Blaine Nissen
Broking & Procurement Coordinator
After completing a Master’s degree at The Courtauld Institute of Art, Blaine took a leap and decided to follow his passion to pursue a career in wine. He built his experience working amongst the vines as an assistant winemaker, hand selling in retail, and eventually making his way to the UK as sommelier. Blaine joins Armit after a stint at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Birmingham. Along the way, he developed an obsession with the intricacies of Burgundy, the wonderful wines of Austria, and all things Riesling. While not studying for his WSET Diploma, Blaine spends as much time as possible in the water surfing.
Alexis Gouk
Senior Account Manager
Alexis has been working in the London On Trade for almost 20 years, beginning her career in hospitality whilst at school and University and working her way up through the ranks to general manager level after a move to Auckland. She has represented estates such as Kumeu River and Villa Maria in Auckland and worked the 2001 vintage as cellar hand at Esk Valley estate in Gisborne before returning to her home in London after 7 years away, going back initially to the hospitality trade culminating in a role in the Sommelier team at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s. She went on to undertake an MBA in Wine Business Management from the Royal College of Agriculture finishing with a Distinction in 2003. Since then, Alexis has worked for some of the UK’s top wine merchants including Berkmann Wine Cellars, Mentzendorff and Fields Morris & Verdin, developing an extensive knowledge of the On trade in London. She has twin girls and a dog, living in North West London.
Ben Humberstone
London Account Manager
Ben spent a formative undergraduate placement year with the Savoy Hotel. Training in luxury hospitality informs Ben’s guest-focused style of service to this day. Upon graduation Ben returned to the Savoy as a sommelier and wine buyer and completed his WSET Diploma, before joining a group of independent merchants in South West London. Ben has long been familiar with the incredible Armit portfolio, and is excited to be working with such an exciting range of wines. Outside of work Ben loves attending the theatre or playing guitar, occasionally gigging in a pop – funk covers band.
Steve Durrant
Regional Account Manager
Steve’s journey of working the wine industry began in 2005 when arriving from South Africa. He started with Majestic Wine in retail before moving across to Majestic Commercial selling to the on-trade in East Anglia for 11 years before moving to Armit Wines in in 2017. Steve looks after both our on and off trade outside of London.
Simon Stagnell
Regional Account Manager
Simon started out in the wine trade with Enotria in 1989, following five years in the restaurant & hotel industry. Initially working in the off-trade Simon moved on to restaurants outside London, expanding their customer base over a 19 year period alongside developing a sales team that covered the south of the UK. It was over this extensive period that Simon developed his expertise and lifelong passion for Italian wines. In 2009, Simon opened his own independent wine merchant in Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire. Simon then joined Armit in 2011 to develop their presence outside London and is currently responsible for trade sales to both Retail, Restaurant and Hotel customers.
BRAND MANAGERS
Nicolas Clerc MS
Portfolio Director
Nicolas Clerc MS has been working for Armit Wines since October 2018. Previously, he worked at Fields, Morris and Verdin as an Prestige account manager after working in the restaurant industry for 14 years. Clerc won UK Sommelier of the Year in 2007 and became a Master Sommelier in 2010. Clerc is President and Founder of the United Kingdom Sommelier Academy. He is a regular judge at Decanter World Wine Awards, the IWSC awards and at the Catey’s Awards.
Alexandra Hale
Brand Manager
Alexandra has recently joined Armit Wines as a Brand Manager. With over 14 years experience in the wine trade she not only has a background in brand management but also in wine education and wine & spirits journalism. She has come on board to support the incredible portfolio of brands in the market and can’t wait to run tastings and events with the team. In addition to her passion for wine, spirits and mixology, Alex loves both cooking and exercise in equal measure.
Alexander Aldersley-Hey
Brand Manager
Alex joined the wine trade after studying History and Italian at Oxford University. He began at Majestic Wines, followed by a stint in the city managing wine investment portfolios, before moving over to work for an importer and building relationships with producers. Having always harboured a desire to work with Armit’s incredible portfolio, he joined the team at the start of 2019. Alex finished the WSET Diploma in 2020, in which he was awarded the Vintners’ Scholarship. Outside of work, Alex is an enthusiastic if messy cook, and dabbles in Islay Scotch.
MARKETING
Jonathan White
Head of Marketing & E-Commerce
Joining the Armit team in December 2021, Jonathan has an experienced background in building and scaling consumer brands in the luxury goods sector. A lover of wine, having bought and sold for many years, he joins the team looking after Marketing & E-Commerce. Prior to working in luxury goods, Jonathan is a fully qualified chartered accountant and holds a masters degree in Investment and Wealth Management from Imperial College London.