With great sadness, The Business reports the death of Richard Ashworth, a veteran of the duty free and travel retail industry, who has passed away after a long battle with cancer.

 

Richard was universally respected and well-liked, not just by his peers, but across a wide age spectrum. Although his career in the Asia Pacific wines and spirits business spanned more than 25 years, he was always keen to get to know fresh faces and share his knowledge.

 

He was perhaps best known for his unfailingly dry sense of humour, a singular sartorial sense and a gentle manner.

 

Much of Richard’s career was spent in Asia. He had been Regional Vice President for Allied Domecq (Ballantine’s Scotch, Canadian Club and Kahlua), and Asia Pacific President of Cognac house Camus, where he had, at one stage, responsibility for over 60 distributors and direct retail customers in 20 countries across the region.

 

Most recently he represented major fashion houses such as LeSportsac and Hunting World in travel retail, using his well-honed skills for new product introductions, brand development and brand management, to build their presences in the channel.

The Business extends its deepest sympathy to Richard’s family and friends at this difficult time.