Vineyard and winemaker Chapel Down has appointed Lourens (Louan) Mouton as its new chief finance officer, as the company aims to ramp up its development and growth.

Mouton was previously chief finance officer at Typhoo Tea, which was acquired by vape firm Supreme late last year in a deal worth £10.2m, after the tea brand went into administration.

Other prior roles include group finance director at carbonated beverages brand Fever-Tree, and head of finance at Natural Capital partners.

Mouton’s appointment follows the resignation of Chapel Down’s former chief finance director Robert Smith, who is due to step down from the role in April, three years after joining the business in March 2022.

Chapel Down Group chairman Martin Glenn said: “We are delighted to have appointed Louan, who has an excellent track record of leading cross-functional teams through significant growth and transformation in publicly traded and private international businesses.

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“He is a dynamic leader of high-performing finance teams and I am confident that, alongside our new CEO James Pennefather, he will continue the delivery of Chapel Down’s development and growth.”

Mouton added: “I am excited to be joining Chapel Down as it enters the next phase of its growth for customers and shareholders. The company has a clear and compelling vision and I look forward to leveraging my recent experience at both Fever-Tree and Typhoo Tea to deliver it.

“Rob leaves an invaluable legacy in strong finance talent, technology platforms as well as the AIM listing, and I will be working closely with him and the Chapel Down leadership team to ensure a smooth transition.”

Earlier this month, former The Lakes Distillery CEO James Pennefather was appointed as chief executive of Chapel Down, to lead the company after the resignation of Andrew Carter.

Chapel Down’s new leadership reshuffle follows its announcement last year that it was abandoning plans to sell the company and lowering its sales outlook after being hit with harvest woes –  news that sent its share price plummeting.