After nine years, Gillian Zettler steps down from executive director | Provided

Charleston Wine + Food wrapped another successful year after a year hiatus at the beginning of the month. The festival made big changes, including proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test and a relocation of Culinary Village from historic Marion Square to Riverfront Park in North Charleston.

On March 18, W+F announced another big change: long-time executive director Gillian Zettler has departed the festival organization after nine years for a new executive position.

โ€œMy association with this amazing team, in this incredible city, has been a highlight of my career,โ€ said Zettler. โ€œLeaving is bittersweet, but I have all the confidence in the organization and its people. I know theyโ€™ll continue to ground their work in patience, gentleness, kindness, and love. Itโ€™s exciting to imagine handing the baton to another passionate leader.โ€

โ€œGillianโ€™s leadership of this organization over the last nine years has strengthened its balance
sheet and its programming, and reflected a genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion,โ€
said board chair Mamie Bush. โ€œWe could not be more proud of her work or more thrilled for
her new opportunity.โ€

The W+F board will announce an interim director and will soon start the search for a permanent executive director.

โ€œOur 2022 festival was a huge win,โ€ said Bush. โ€œAnd the work starts now to create even more
value in โ€˜23. The board has full confidence in the festivalโ€™s team to keep this momentum going.โ€



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