Winch Design looks outside the industry for new management

Aino-Leena Grapin has joined Winch Design as its new CEO. Grapin has nearly 20 years of experience in leading and growing businesses in creative industries.

She was formerly managing director at Paddle8/Auctionata, an online auction house, setting up the company’s European operations. Holding an MBA from INSEAD, Grapin started her career as a strategy consultant with Bain & Company, before spending nearly a decade at Christie’s, in a variety of strategic and operational roles, more recently as international business director, responsible for Russian art.

Grapin will work closely with recently appointed non-executive chairman, Clive Beharrell, who also brings a wealth of experience as chairman of more than 10 businesses across a variety of sectors, from Scott Dunn to Fat Face. Both Grapin and Beharrell have been purposefully recruited from outside the superyacht and private aviation industries, to provide a fresh perspective and high-level business experience from other relevant sectors.

Andrew Winch has been at the helm of the company and has been its driving force creatively for the last 30 years. As creative director and founder, his passion for all things design-related will run through the business. He will spend more time working closely with the design teams and with clients. Jane Winch, who started the company with Andrew, will step down from her role as managing director and will assume a non-executive position.

“Winch Design has always been innovative and creative in its designs and the same should apply to its business vision,” said Grapin. “The company has grown tremendously in the past 30 years and is in a very strong position, thanks to Andrew, Jane and their talented team. I am very excited to lead Winch Design into this new phase.”