EUROPE. European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC) members voted unanimously to re-elect Nigel Keal as President for a further one-year term at the association’s recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Madrid.
Keal said: “I am very pleased to have been re-elected as President of ETRC and I would like to thank our members for their continued confidence.”
He added, “ETRC is at its strongest when the industry comes together — sharing knowledge, experience and a common commitment to the future of duty free and travel retail.
“The past year has once again demonstrated the importance of having a strong and united voice for our sector. Strengthening our membership will be a key priority in the year ahead. I look forward to continuing to work closely with our members, the Managing and Supervisory Boards, and the Secretariat to support the industry and represent its interests at European level.”
The ETRC Managing Board includes:
- Sarah Branquinho, Vice-President Brands – Tax Free World Association President
- Pedro Castro, Vice-President External Affairs – Avolta Global Public Affairs Director
- Piret Mürk-Dubout, Vice-President Maritime Affairs – Tallink Grupp/ Tallink Silja Member of the Management Board
- Paul Neeson, Vice-President Aviation Affairs – ARI Ireland Director Retail
- Nina Semprecht, Vice-President Communications and Public Affairs – Gebr. Heinemann Director Corporate Communications and External Affairs
- Lylian Vignau, Vice-President Marketing – Lagardère Travel Retail Chief Commercial & Digital Officer.
At the AGM, the ETRC Secretariat, together with representatives from ETRC’s national and regional member associations, reviewed the organisation’s activities over the past year and outlined key advocacy priorities for the sector.
Discussions focused on key policy and operational issues, including the implementation of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), evolving sustainability legislation and broader economic and regulatory uncertainties impacting the industry.
The meeting also featured contributions from leading external experts. These included David Jimenez-Blanco, President of the Madrid Stock Exchange, who shared insights on the economic outlook and current affairs. Olivier Ponti, Director of Market Intelligence and Insights at Amadeus, presented data and analysis on evolving air traffic trends and the impact of geopolitical developments on global travel patterns.
A statement said, “The AGM reaffirmed ETRC’s commitment to representing and advancing the interests of Europe’s duty free and travel retail industry through collaboration, advocacy and engagement with policymakers and stakeholders across the region.” ✈
