TFWA (Tax Free World Association) has announced the election of a new Board and Management Committee, marking an important new chapter for the association and the global travel retail industry. The newly appointed leadership will serve a two-year mandate, from October 2024 to October 2026.
A Highly Successful 2024 Edition in Cannes
The 2024 TFWA World Exhibition & Conference concluded this week at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, reaffirming its status as one of the most important annual events in the duty-free and travel retail calendar. Industry leaders from around the world gathered to discuss trends, showcase product innovations, and strengthen commercial partnerships.
TFWA confirmed that next year’s edition will return to Cannes from 28 September to 2 October 2025, with the main conference scheduled for Monday, 29 September.
Erik Juul-Mortensen Steps Down After 40 Years of Service
Outgoing TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen expressed optimism for the future:
“As we look back on a wonderful week spent in Cannes to mark 40 years of our association, it is time to look ahead to 2025. I leave my position as President confident that TFWA is in safe hands.”
He will step down at the end of 2024 and has extended his best wishes to his successor, who will be elected in December.
A Strengthened Board to Guide the Next Phase of TFWA
Key appointments for the new term include:
- Jean-Pierre Bombet – Vice President, Finance
- Loukia Alepochoriti (Imperial Brands) – Vice President, Conference & Research
- Erin Lillis – Vice President, Commercial
Two vice presidents continue for another term:
- Hervé Ducros (Chanel) – Vice President, Marketing
- Sam Gerber (Worldconnect) – Vice President, Corporate & Member Services
- Gerber also announced he will stand for election as the next TFWA President.
Juul-Mortensen extended his congratulations to the newly elected members and thanked Frédéric Garcia-Pelayo, Donatienne de Fontaines-Guillaume, and Arnaud de Volontat for their years of dedication and service.
Presidential Election Scheduled for December
In accordance with TFWA statutes:
- The Management Committee will elect the next President during its meeting in December.
- The new President will serve a one-year mandate, running until December 2025.
- Candidates within the Management Committee must declare their intention before the day of the meeting.
- External candidates must submit their applications by 15 November via registered mail to the TFWA Election Committee in Paris.
Full List of Elected Management Committee Members
The new Committee includes representatives from all key product categories of the travel retail sector: Wines & Spirits, Tobacco, Perfumes & Cosmetics, Fashion & Accessories, Jewelry & Watches, Electronics, Confectionery, Toys, Homeware, and more.
The full list of those elected to the Management Committee are:
| Philippe | de Marcilly | Albert Bichot | Wine/Spirits/Non-Alcoholic Beverages |
| Nick | Mogford | Brown-Forman | Wine/Spirits/Non-Alcoholic Beverages |
| Barry | Geoghegan | Duty Free Global | Wine/Spirits/Non-Alcoholic Beverages |
| Violaine | Creuzé | Gonzalez Byass S.A. | Wine/Spirits/Non-Alcoholic Beverages |
| Pier Giuseppe | Torresani | Masi Agricola | Wine/Spirits/Non-Alcoholic Beverages |
| Donatienne | de Fontaines-Guillaume | Moët Hennessy | Wine/Spirits/Non-Alcoholic Beverages |
| Oliver | Storrie | Quintessential Brands Group | Wine/Spirits/Non-Alcoholic Beverages |
| Giacomo | Marzotto | Santa Margherita | Wine/Spirits/Non-Alcoholic Beverages |
| Loukia | Alepochoriti | Imperial Brands | Tobacco/Smokers’ Accessories |
| Antonio | Vencesla | JTI | Tobacco/Smokers’ Accessories |
| Jean-Christophe | Hollay | Oettinger Davidoff Ag | Tobacco/Smokers’ Accessories |
| Abla | Benslimane | Philip Morris World Trade S.A.R.L. | Tobacco/Smokers’ Accessories |
| Arnaud | de Volontat | Altimetre LLC | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Benoît | Davaillon | Caudalie | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Hervé | Ducros | Chanel Sarl. | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Simona | Sangalli | Collistar S.P.A. | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Valérie | Hospital | Coty | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Olivier | Mariotti | Editions Des Sens | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Frédéric | Garcia-Pelayo | Interparfums | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Guido | Tappeser | L’Oreal | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Elodie | Planchon | Parfums Christian Dior | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Priscilla | Haibe de Walque | Payot | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Kaatje | Noens | Puig | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Lotte | Rozemuller | Rituals Cosmetics | Perfumes/Cosmetics |
| Simone | Scodellaro | Bally | Fashion/Accessories/Sunglasses/Luggage |
| Giada | Cappelletti | Coccinelle Spa | Fashion/Accessories/Sunglasses/Luggage |
| Francis | Gros | Ermenegildo Zegna Group | Fashion/Accessories/Sunglasses/Luggage |
| Alessio | Crivelli | Essilorluxottica | Fashion/Accessories/Sunglasses/Luggage |
| Erin | Lillis | Lacoste | Fashion/Accessories/Sunglasses/Luggage |
| Gloria | Dix | Victorinox Ag | Fashion/Accessories/Sunglasses/Luggage |
| Nadia | Skouri | Buying The Sky | Jewellery/Watches/Writing Instruments |
| Nikolas | Hogrefe | Hanse Distribution Gmbh | Jewellery/Watches/Writing Instruments |
| Alessandra | Visconti | Reflecta Sas | Jewellery/Watches/Writing Instruments |
| Jean-Pierre | Bombet | Spa Developpement D/B/A/ Be Relax Sarl | Electronics/Travel Accessories |
| Sam | Gerber | Worldconnect Ag | Electronics/Travel Accessories |
| Aisling | Walsh | Butlers Chocolates Uc | Confectionery/Fine Foods/Food Supplements |
| Fabrizio | Canal | Food Accademia | Confectionery/Fine Foods/Food Supplements |
| Peter | Zehnder | Lindt & Sprüngli | Confectionery/Fine Foods/Food Supplements |
| Carlos | Granados | Mondelez World Travel Retail | Confectionery/Fine Foods/Food Supplements |
| Sebastian | Alt | Lego Group | Gifts/Toys/Souvenirs/Homeware |
