ASIA PACIFIC. The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) has revealed that Changi Airport Group (CAG) Senior Vice President, Airside Leasing & T5 Commercial Planning Chandra Mahtani will represent CAG on the APTRA board from 1 November for the current term of office until May 2025.
This follows the announcement of CAG Managing Director Airside Concessions Teo Chew Hoon’s retirement from the airport company after almost eight years of service, effective from 31 October.
APTRA President and King Power Group (Hong Kong) Group CEO Sunil Tuli said: “On behalf of everyone at APTRA, I would like to thank Chew Hoon for her longstanding commitment and valued support and insights to APTRA and we wish her every happiness in her retirement. We look forward to welcoming Chandra.”
APTRA board vacancy
An APTRA board vacancy has become available following the recent takeover of Distell International by CVH Spirits. The company has decided to not continue the board position held by (and inherited from) Distell.
As a result, Luke Maga (formerly of Distell International) has stepped down from the APTRA board. As reported, Maga was recently named Managing Director Global Travel Retail & Africa, Middle East & Indian Subcontinent at Loch Lomond Group.
APTRA is inviting applications from any member organisations interested in joining the board. A nominated representative from the member’s executive team will becom one of the 12 APTRA board members for the remainder of the current term – from November 2023 until May 2025.
Nominations are now open until 2 November (23:59 SGT), and can be sent via email to APTRA Executive Director Anne Kavanagh on anne.kavanagh@aptra.asia, copied to admin@aptra.asia.
Each organisation can hold a maximum of one seat on the board, if elected by APTRA members. The seat is held by the member organisation and not the individual; meaning that if an individual leaves that organisation, a new representative can be selected without an election. There is no restriction on the number of board members by category.
APTRA current board comprises:
Retailers
King Power Group (Hong Kong) Group CEO – Sunil Tuli
Delhi Duty Free Services Director (and Aer Rianta International Chief Operations and Business Development Officer) – Nuno Amaral
Airports
Auckland International Airport Head of Retail – Lucy Thomas
Changi Airport Group, SVP Airside Leasing & T5 Commercial Planning – Chandra Mahtani (with effect from 1 November)
Associations
Tax Free World Association President – Erik Juul-Mortensen
Australia Duty Free Association Chairperson – Steve Timms
Brands
Chanel Director Global Travel Retail – Hervé Ducros
Lacoste Travel Retail Director – Erin Lillis
Lindt & Sprüngli Head of APAC Travel Retail – Susana Hueso
Pernod Ricard Managing Director, North Asia – Simon Van Moppes
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Manager, Corporate Affairs & Communications – Pan Har Ying
The required nomination details include: nominee name, company and position held, and business category. Applicants should include a personal statement highlighting how they will add value to APTRA.
Once the deadline for applications is complete, details of nominees will be shared with all APTRA members for each company to make one selection via a unique ID/link through an online voting process that will be open between 3-8 November. Further details will be shared along with a list of nominees on 3 November.
The election result will be announced on 9 November. In the event of a tie, members will be asked to vote again.
Tuli added: “We have a fantastic team of organisations and their representatives on the APTRA board who give their time and advice freely. On behalf of everyone at APTRA I’d like to thank Distell and Luke Maga for their sterling contribution to the team in recent years.
“I encourage all APTRA members to consider applying for this vacancy and to play a lead role in our work supporting the industry in Asia Pacific as it continues its recovery.” ✈
