Deirdre Mahlan Biography and Net Worth

As Chairperson of the Board and just the third CEO in the Company’s storied half-century history, Deirdre Mahlan is cementing The Duckhorn Portfolio’s reputation as America’s most dynamic luxury wine company, while helping to pioneer the way successful modern wineries do business in the global marketplace.  Building on a career focused on consumer goods, with more than 30 years of experience in luxury wine and spirits, CFO-level finance
expertise, and a deep knowledge of international business development and organizational leadership, Deirdre is charting a course for the future of The Duckhorn Portfolio that honors its history of excellence, while never resting on past laurels.

Before joining The Duckhorn Portfolio Board in 2021 and being named CEO and Board Chairperson in early 2023, Deirdre spent over 20 years at Diageo. During this time, she held positions of increasing responsibility, serving as SVP Finance, CFO of Diageo plc, and ultimately President of Diageo North America, Inc., where she guided the company’s US and Canadian spirits and beer business. Prior to Diageo, Deirdre held senior finance positions at Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, and began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Today, Deirdre leads more than 600 talented employees at The Duckhorn Portfolio, including the company’s acclaimed winemaking, vineyard development and executive leadership teams, while overseeing eleven wineries, ten state-of-the-art winemaking facilities, eight tasting rooms and over 2,200 coveted acres of vineyards spanning 38 Estate properties. The Duckhorn Portfolio is widely regarded as America’s preeminent luxury wine company, with price points ranging from $20 to $230 across more than 15 varietals with wines available throughout the United States, on five continents, and in more than 50 countries around the world.

Since being appointed CEO, Deirdre has overseen the acquisition and successful integration of Sonoma-Cutrer into an acclaimed portfolio that includes Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Kosta Browne, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Calera, Migration, Postmark, Canvasback and Greenwing. With the goal of driving consistent, profitable growth and stakeholder value, while establishing even deeper market penetration and expanded awareness for the company’s portfolio, Deirdre guided the creation of a new route-to-consumer plan and reimagined the company’s brand strategy and marketing program.

In addition to her role at The Duckhorn Portfolio, Deirdre is a member of the Finance Committee at Wine Institute and is on the Board of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a consumer goods company, where she is a member of its audit committee. She also previously served on the Boards of Haleon plc and Experian plc. Born and raised in New York, Deirdre earned a BS in accounting from New York University and an MBA from Columbia University.