The guiding force behind the continued growth of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd. is Murray Marshall, who provides leadership, vision and strategic direction for the company. A well-respected industry veteran, Murray is also Chairman of the VQA Canada. Among other things, Murray is the former General Manager, Sales and Marketing of Export and Specialty Markets for Andrés Wines. This position involved (a) creating and implementing sales strategies for domestic products such as Icewine and table wine in export markets (such as the United States and Asian markets) and specialty markets within Canada (such as duty free), and (b) overseeing the development and expansion of an imported wine, spirits and beer agency to complement Andrés’ domestic portfolio.

Murray's experience extends back over the past 26 years with Joseph Seagram & Sons, Basil D. Hobbs Imported Wines & Spirits, T.G. Bright Company and Colio Estate Wines. In his positions with these companies, he was directly responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies to facilitate brand development and sales for both wines and spirits. As the Executive Vice-President of Corporate Development of Colio Wines, he was also responsible for developing new ventures (such as new brands, co-packing agreements for products, government grants for capital and vineyard acquisitions) in order to increase sales, production and cash flow for the winery and its vineyard operations.

A co-founder of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd. along with Murray Marshall and Barry Gordon, Andrew was the owner and founder of Boka Wines & Spirits Ltd. (Boka), which he created in September of 1997 as an imported wines, spirits and beer agency and later expanded to also represent domestic wines. Andrew had tremendous early success with Boka, which has continued since its acquisition by Diamond Estates. He has a proven ability to sell and negotiate with the LCBO and foreign and domestic producers, which he used to build a portfolio with sales to the LCBO (both to the large volume General List and the specialty Vintages and Classics Catalogue divisions), licensees and private customers.

Prior to establishing Boka, Andrew was a corporate, banking and international trade lawyer practicing at the firm McMillan Binch (Barristers and Solicitors) where he amassed experience in mergers and acquisitions, private company asset and share sales, financing and international trade.

Wine appreciation has long been a personal pursuit of Murray’s and in 1995 he turned this passion into a business when he became one of the early investors in Renwood, a premium producing winery in California.  As a Director of Renwood, Murray helped develop and implement its business and branding strategy. Today, Renwood is recognized as one of the top Zinfandel producers in the world.