Our People

The land may tell a story of richness and character, but it’s our people who truly bring Craggy Range to life.

Established by the Peabody family in 1998, with the vision to create a long-term legacy to hand down to future generations.

Mary & Terry Peabody

Owners

Terry Peabody is the Chairman and owner of Craggy Range, bringing vision, resources, business acumen and determination to guide the company’s growth. Originally from the East Coast of the United States, Terry is recognised as one of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs, with a career spanning waste management, transportation, and ventures across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Mary Peabody focuses on Craggy Range’s acclaimed, award-winning restaurant. With a background in hospitality in Canada and Australia, and a lifelong passion for fine food and wine, Mary envisioned the restaurant as a beautiful place to share memorable meals with friends and family.

Mary-Jeanne Peabody

Director

In 1993, Mary-Jeanne and her mother shared their vision with Terry Peabody to extend the family’s passion into fine wine. Their search for the perfect location led them to New Zealand, where Craggy Range was born.

With a hospitality background and studies in wine making at Roseworthy College, Mary-Jeanne has been instrumental in Craggy Range’s sales and marketing. A passionate brand advocate, she travels globally, hosting tastings and wine dinners, sharing the Craggy Range story.

“I never tire of seeing another bottle of Craggy Range wine ordered at restaurants around the world.”

Beyond wine, she is a Board Member of the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art Foundation and actively supports AEIOU in raising funds for children with autism.
Mary-Jeanne lives in Brisbane, close to her children and grandchildren, and considers Hawke’s Bay her second home.

David T. Peabody

Executive Director

When David T. Peabody first visited Craggy Range at the tender age of 12 and experienced the vineyards and winery first-hand, he knew immediately it was something he wanted to be involved in. But when David told his grandfather, Terry Peabody, of his aspirations a few years later, he had to prove he was serious. David accepted his grandfather’s challenge and has taken on several roles, starting from the ground up within the business, including roles in the vineyard, winery, sales, and marketing teams.

In November 2024, David T. Peabody was appointed Executive Director, marking the third generation of the Peabody family’s involvement in the winery’s governance. This appointment aligns with the family’s commitment to a 1,000 year trust, ensuring the winery remains under family stewardship.

In 2022, he and his wife Annabelle welcomed the first Peabody to be born in New Zealand with the arrival of their daughter.

Craig Sims

CEO

As CEO, Craig is pleased to be both custodian and part of the team helping to realise the Peabody family aspiration of creating an iconic New Zealand Winery that will ultimately sit alongside the great wines of the world.

As a leader, Craig focuses on taking care of the people in his team and being part of high-performing, engaged groups. For a team to function at their best, he believes it is essential to have a unifying common goal and ensure people are well supported along the way.

He also believes iconic brands like Craggy Range should be part of building sustainable futures and be well connected to their customers, people and communities.

Ben Tombs

Chief Winemaker

Marlborough-born Ben Tombs has been working in wineries and vineyards since the age of 17.

After receiving coveted scholarships from the Bragato Research Institute, he embarked on a Bachelor of Wine Science, graduating with an Academic Excellence Award from the Eastern Institute of Technology.
More recently, with an interest in honing his leadership and marketing skills, he is nearing completion of a Master of Business in Global Management and Marketing.

Ben joined Craggy Range in 2021 and became Chief Winemaker in November 2023; his ongoing pursuit to push the boundaries for improving wine quality and the emphasis on custodian ships have set him apart in the industry.

Jonathan Hamlet

National Vineyard Manager

With over 20 years of experience in the New Zealand wine industry, Jonathan joined Craggy Range in 2020 as National Vineyards Manager. Previously his experience across a number of producers in Hawke's Bay led him to the role as Hawke’s Bay Regional Viticulturist for Villa Maria. There, he forged extensive expertise in organic viticulture, serving as Chair of Organic Winegrowers New Zealand for four years. Jonathan also contributes as a member of the research governance committee for the Bragato Research Institute. Driven by a passion for excellence, he is dedicated to producing wines that authentically express the character of their individual sites.

Ryan Morgan

Global Head of Sales

Growing up in the Cape Province in South Africa, surrounded by vineyards, it was inevitable that the love of wine would play a defining role in Ryan’s career.

After working in hospitality and travelling the great wine regions of Europe, Ryan decided to join the wine industry. He started in wine retail in London before joining the pioneering Australian cool climate producer Rathbone Wine Group, heading up the European Sales Manager role for all the family-owned wineries.

Ryan joined Craggy Range Vineyards in 2016 as EMEA Business Manager and, in 2022, moved up to the Global Head of Sales role. With over 20 years of experience in the wine trade, Ryan brings invaluable knowledge to the Craggy Range family.

Joanne Deitch

Global Marketing Manager

Joanne Deitch brings a wealth of experience in the wine industry to Craggy Range, with a career that spans senior marketing roles both in New Zealand and the United States.

Jo has led strategic marketing initiatives for luxury wine brands at Constellation Brands in New Zealand and California, as well as during her time with the Wagner Family of Wine and Copper Cane Wines & Provisions in Napa Valley. Her deep understanding of the global wine market and her passion for storytelling make her a vital part of the Craggy Range team.

Kristine Kilpatrick

Head of People & Hospitality

Kristine brings over 20 years of experience in Human Resources and Hospitality to Craggy Range, where she has been a key member of the leadership team since 2017. Growing up in Hawke’s Bay, Kristine has previously held senior leadership roles with InterContinental Hotels Group across New Zealand and Australia.

In her current role, Kristine has played a pivotal role in the expansion and strategic development of hospitality operations at Craggy Range’s Giants site, including Accommodation, Restaurant, and Cellar Door, transforming them into world-class facilities.

Beyond Craggy Range, Kristine actively contributes to the industry by serving on the board of directors for Hawkes Bay Tourism, the advisory board of the Pacific International Hotel Management School, and as Vice President of the Hawkes Bay and East Coast Branch of Hospitality New Zealand.

Casey McDonald

Executive Chef

When Casey took on the role of Head Chef at Craggy Range, he brought with him a wealth of experience gained working alongside some of the world’s most respected culinary leaders.

His career spans kitchens both internationally and locally, including time with Rex Morgan in Wellington, Gary Danko in San Francisco, Phil Howard at the two Michelin-starred The Square in London, and leading Andrew McConnell’s acclaimed Melbourne restaurants such as Supernormal, Cumulus, and Cutler & Co., the latter awarded Gourmet Traveller’s ‘Best in Australia’.