INTERNATIONAL. The election for Tax Free World Association (TFWA) President has been advanced a day to 11 December.
As reported, two candidates from outside the Management Committee – incumbent TFWA President Philippe Margueritte and highly regarded industry executive Sarah Branquinho – have already submitted their nominations for the post.
Any non-Management Committee candidates had to submit their candidacy by 14 November.
Members of the Management Committee planning to stand for election must submit their candidacies by election day, now Thursday 11 December.
Margueritte, elected for the first time last December, faces a formidable challenge from Branquinho. She is President of Duty Free World Council, which plays a critical role in defending and advancing the interests of brands as well as other travel retail stakeholders globally.
Branquinho is also Chair of the much-admired Women in Travel Retail+, a voluntary role she has held since October 2006.
Formerly Branquinho was President of the European Travel Retail Confederation for six years from July 2012. She is also an External Affairs Advisor on a contract basis to travel retail leader Avolta, a key enabler for her DFWC President role.
Margueritte also has strong industry credentials. Earlier in his career, he spent 15 years at Coty, including six years leading Coty Travel Retail across all its divisions (luxury, consumer and professional) as Senior Vice President Global Travel Retail & Export Europe.
After leaving Coty he became CEO of Ritz Enterprise from mid-2022 until the end of 2023. ✈
