David Richardson, CEO, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE), Washington’s largest winery, announced multiple changes to its senior leadership team today. David Richardson has been named SMWE’s new chief executive officer. Dan Heller has been named chief commercial officer.

“We’ve been working hard to identify people to lead Ste. Michelle on its continued transformational process,” Court Wyckoff, CEO of Wyckoff Family Business, told Northwest Wine Report. “With these moves, we’ve completed the build-out of what we believe is the best-in-class executive bench to lead the company in the short and longer term.” The Wyckoff family purchased Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in December 2025.

Richardson most recently served as president and CEO of NewCold Cooperative, one of the world’s largest supply chain and logistics companies. He held this position for more than 13 years. Prior to that, Richardson spent nine years as SVP/senior financial officer of strategic planning at ConAgra, a packaged goods company.

“David brings a wealth of multifaceted experience, including on the agriculture side,” Wyckoff said. “He’s very passionate about Washington State and Eastern Washington, all the way from grower through manufacturing and then, of course, through his Consumer Packaged Goods experience as well.” Richardson is a long-time Washington resident.

Heller, meanwhile, most recently served