Duty Free World Council (DFWC) President Sarah Branquinho has paid tribute to her predecessor Frank O’Connell after officially taking up the position on 1 November 2019.

O’Connell, who had served as President since the DFWC’s founding six years ago, has adopted a consultancy role as far as the Association’s new academy and other issues are concerned.

Branquinho and O’Connell joined various industry representatives and dignitaries at an Aer Rianta International-hosted networking event in Dublin earlier this week which TRBusiness also attended. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the creation of the Academy and enrolment of the first cohort of students.

Branquinho told TRBusiness: “Under Frank’s Presidency, the DFWC has really developed a reputation for coming in on industry issues, gaining alignment between the regional associations and taking a position on issues which are very important to the industry. We are obviously going to continue that work.

“It has been a great year for Frank to finish on because so much has come out of all the work he has done. So often you work on things and are not there when they happen. We are really pleased for Frank and how things have turned out. I am equally pleased that due to our strong friendship I will always be able to call on Frank for advice and help as we take the Council forward.”

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An industry veteran with more than 30 years experience working in the retail and lobbying sides of the business, O’Connell remarked: “The council has been widely accepted for six years running throughout the world. People understand its value, coordinating role and ability to bring the different regions and various interests into a global agenda. It is a very good time to bring this forward to another level.”

He also talked up the importance of the Council’s Economic Impact Studies, the latest of which for the Asia Pacific region was launched on 31 October 2019. “They are really valuable in terms of the industry when it comes to advocacy with regulators and the government.

“The first thing you are asked on entering an office is for data and statistics. We now have three studies in place and another one on the horizon. Sarah can build on them all in the future.”

Meanwhile, the launch of a Confectionery Code of Conduct is also in the pipeline to complement the existing one for alcohol. O’Connell said: “It is certainly on the agenda and being explored with the various companies. Codes of Conducts are not easily to produce. If you are going to sign up to it you have to be happy with what you are signing up to. I am hopeful this will emerge in the coming months.”