The UK Travel Retail Forum’s (UKTRF) Board of Directors has named Nigel Keal as interim chair.

Keal will occupy the position on a temporary basis when current Chair Rachel Bulford departs on maternity leave at the end of March.

Having been appointed to the UKTRF Board as a temporary independent director, Keal was subsequently voted in unanimously as interim Chair.

His appointment will be formally endorsed by the membership at UKTRF’s forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Keal has three decades’ experience in senior duty free and travel retail roles, spanning operations, merchandising, purchasing and procurement.

IN SAFE HANDS

He joined Dufry as Procurement Director in 2006 and more recently served as Global Commercial Director.

As a member of the ETRC Board, Keal also served as the European association’s president from 2019-2021.

Bulford (left) commented: “I am confident that under Nigel’s leadership UKTRF is in good hands. His wealth of relevant experience will help us to deliver on our 2022 objectives and expand our membership base at a time when the recovery of our sector remains precarious.

“Though he will be operating independently from existing commitments, Nigel’s experience as a commercial director in travel retail, coupled with his involvement in the ETRC, will be a powerful combination for UKTRF.”

Keal added: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the interim Chair of UKTRF. I am sure I speak for all UKTRF’s members in thanking Rachel for her hard work to date.

“Rachel has been an outstanding Chair and a highly effective voice for UKTRF as the travel industry emerges from one of the most challenging periods in its history.

“I look forward to furthering Rachel’s work and collaborating with the UKTRF Board to campaign for measures that will support the industry’s recovery, such as the introduction of duty free on arrival stores.”