ANDREW FORD APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF APTRA

The members of the Board of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association are pleased to announce the election of Andrew Ford of Chabot Armagnac as President with immediate effect.

The election took place at a meeting following the annual general meeting of the Association in Singapore yesterday (10th May 2017).

Mr. Ford, previously APTRA Secretary, succeeds Jaya Singh, who has held the role since 2013 and who remains a member of the Board, representing Mondelez World Travel Retail.

Andrew Ford commented: “I am honoured to have been elected to lead this dynamic membership Association which plays such an important part in nurturing and protecting the duty free and travel retail industry in the Asia Pacific region.

“Under Jaya’s eminent leadership APTRA has made significant progress in training, research and connectivity, opening crucial lines of communication between stakeholders and regulatory authorities. It has launched training initiatives, which help to ensure that the industry conducts its business with integrity, and is seen to do so, and it has provided members with actionable data on consumer behaviour in the various markets of Asia Pacific. Challenges appear on the horizon without warning – and often without precedent – and, through our advocacy work, APTRA has endeavoured to respond in a rapid and effective manner. I look forward to building on this legacy.”

Jaya Singh added: “I have enjoyed enormously working with the Board and Members of APTRA over the past four years and I wish to take this opportunity to thank them all for their immense contribution to our work. I have great confidence in Andrew’s ability to lead the Association and to take it on to the next level. I am confident that the industry will continue to grow and prosper in Asia Pacific under his care.”

At the annual general meeting representatives from 12 member companies were elected to the Board:

For further information about the work of APTRA please consult www.aptra.asia or contact info@aptra.asia

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About APTRA

APTRA is the trade association for the duty free and travel retail industry in the Asia Pacific region, serving all members and the industry to help grow the business and protect it when challenges arise.

• Through technology-led initiatives, seminars and conferences, APTRA serves to facilitate contact between members;
• Through bespoke training initiatives, APTRA is building the industry’s brand as a highly professional, caring and responsible retail channel;
• Through intensive consumer and market research, APTRA provides a solid knowledge bank, bringing valuable, actionable data relevant to all sectors;
• Through regular communication, APTRA seeks to spread awareness and knowledge about the industry and the importance of travel retail for governments, airports, airlines and related businesses;
• Through regional monitoring, and in collaboration with member companies and trade associations in other parts of the world, APTRA is constantly on the alert for new challenges where its advocacy on behalf of the industry is needed with national governments and policy-makers in order to safeguard and grow the business of all concerned.

The geographical area covered by APTRA includes countries in Eastern Asia, South Eastern Asia, South Central Asia and Oceania. www.aptra.asia