TFWA Associate Director and former Managing Director Alain Maingreaud has been elected as the new President of TFWA on a one-year term, succeeding Erik Juul-Mortensen.

The result was confirmed following a vote at the TFWA Management Committee meeting held in Paris today and published first by TRBusiness.com.

Maingreaud, who has been with the association since 1995, became TFWA’s Managing Director in 2010 and adopted the part-time position of Associate Director on 1 October last year.

Conversations with sources prior to the TFWA Management Committee vote in Paris suggested Maingreaud was a strong candidate to take the role, while Munday was also understood to be a popular frontrunner.

TRBusiness was already aware of two of the confirmed candidates for the TFWA leadership; APTRA President and Paccaya Resources Founder Andrew Ford and former Furla Global Travel Retail Director Gerry Munday.

Maingreaud and Capi Global Manager Business Development Thom Rankin had emerged as the other contenders.

As reported, the much-respected Juul-Mortensen declared his intention not to stand for re-election earlier this year.

‘A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW’

Juul-Mortensen was one of the association’s founding members in 1984 and led the association as President for 19 years.

Commenting on his election, Maingreaud said: “I am delighted and honoured to be appointed President of TFWA, especially following an election with such strong candidates. I am very grateful for the support I have received from the Management Committee, and look forward to beginning work in earnest.

“I have, of course, a hard act to follow. Erik helped create TFWA and has worked tirelessly to nurture and promote the Association and indeed the wider industry – something which I embrace and would like to continue in the same spirit.”

Juul-Mortensen said: “It has been a genuine honour and a privilege to serve as TFWA President. I wish Alain every success in this very rewarding and sometimes challenging role, and I know that he will enjoy the full support of the Board and Management Committee.

‘MEMORIES TO TREASURE’

“I am proud of what TFWA has achieved during my time with the Association, and of the contribution it has made to the development of the duty free and travel retail industry.

“I am greatly indebted to the members of the TFWA Board and Management Committee, past and present, for their support, counsel and encouragement, through good times and bad, and for the support and friendship of TFWA’s partners around the world, notably in Cannes and Singapore, where I have many memories to treasure.

“My wider thanks go to everyone in our industry for their support during my time as TFWA President. We have the good fortune to work in a global business that is constantly challenging, continually evolving, and always rewarding.

“I trust that TFWA will continue to play a positive role in helping all duty free and travel retail companies reach their full potential, and encouraging all to work together to the benefit of the travelling consumer.”