Andrew McMurray and Susan Kostrzewa Join JamesSuckling.com

JamesSuckling.com has added two new U.S.-based executives to its team as the company grows in all aspects of its business.  

Andrew McMurray, the new Publisher, is one of the most influential leaders in the U.S. wine retailing sector, with decades of transformative success across the retail, auction, storage and innovative partnerships realm at New York’s Zachys Retail.

Susan Kostrzewa, the new Editorial Director, is an award-winning wine journalist, critic and publishing strategist with more than 20 years of experience in spearheading high-profile, cross-platform editorial innovations geared to attract more consumers to the wine space. Andrew and Susan are both based in the New York metropolitan area. 

James Suckling will continue his role as CEO and Editor, increasing his focus on events growth, digital innovation at the company including AI strategies, and continued expansion of the more than 45,000 wines the reviews each year with his team of tasters around the world.  

Executive Editor Jim Gordon will be transitioning his role into Editor-at-Large and will continue to taste Napa and Sonoma wines as well as other U.S. wine regions such as Texas. 

These additions bring JamesSuckling.com’s U.S. team to six, including four journalists/tasters: Gordon and Associate Editor Ryan Montgomery, both based in Napa, California; Staff Writer & Taster Brian Freedman, based in Philadelphia; and Staff Writer & Taster Courtney Humiston, who is based near Portland, Oregon. The entire staff of JamesSuckling.com now counts 31 globally, spanning Hong Kong – where it is headquartered – the United States, Europe and beyond. 

Andrew joined Zachys Retail in 1993 and over three decades, the organization grew from a family-run New York retailer into a global fine wine powerhouse encompassing retail, auction, and storage. Among his many achievements, Andrew is credited with embedding Italian wine culture into Zachys’ DNA. Inspired by his first trip to Italy in 1994, he expanded a modest category into a national leader and today, one in three bottles sold at Zachys retail is Italian. He also championed landmark consumer events. 

 Andrew’s influence extends beyond retail. He spearheaded a strategic partnership with NetJets, curating champagne, wines, and spirits for its exclusive ownership community. He played a pivotal role in launching the wine program at Citi Field (the home base of the New York Mets)  in 2009, bringing fine wine to the ballpark experience. And he achieved national acclaim on ABC’s Shark Tank with the record-setting ZIPZ deal, the largest wine-industry investment in the show’s history. 

Susan is a veteran wine writer, editor and educator and the former editor-in-chief of Wine Enthusiast Media, where, in her 12-year executive tenure, she repositioned the legacy media brand to attract new and more diverse wine consumers via cutting-edge coverage and digital programs such as a travel video series, podcasts, virtual educational events and lively social media campaigns. Spearheading global expansion and deeper reach for the media company, she launched a Chinese edition of the print publication and expanded the tasting and editorial teams in key markets and categories. 

Susan has co-authored numerous books on wine, food and travel and has been named one of Wine Business’ Top 50 Most Influential Leaders, was awarded the Top Women in Media accolade by Folio Magazine, and is a former judge for the American Society of Magazine Editors’ (ASME) prestigious Ellies Awards. She is an elected Dame-Chevalier de l’Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne and currently serves on the advisory boards of numerous industry non-profits – including Les Dames D’Escoffier and Dream Big Darling – in her continued efforts to mentor next-generation professional talent in wine, food and spirits.