As reported on TRBusiness.com, a significant shake-up of the TFWA Board took place in October 2024 following elections of the Board and Management Committee.

Long-term incumbents Frédéric Garcia-Pelayo (Interparfums), Donatienne de Fontaines-Guillaume (Moët Hennessy) and Arnaud de Volontat (Altimetre) made way for Jean-Pierre Bombet, Head of Operations, Be Relax (Vice President Finance); Erin Lillis, Travel Retail Director APAC, Lacoste (Vice President Commercial); and Loukia Alepochoriti, Head of Corporate & Legal Affairs – Global Duty Free & Export, Imperial Brands (Vice President Conferences and Research).

They join existing Board member Sam Gerber, Managing Partner at WorldConnect AG (Vice President Corporate and Member Services).

Hervé Ducros, Global Travel Retail Director at Chanel, has stood down from his position on the Board. A new VP marketing will be elected at the TFWA Management Committee meeting in early September, this publication has been told.

In conversation with TRBusiness for the August/September e-zine – click here for the full article – Alepochoriti, Lillis and Bombet shared their perspectives on serving on TFWA’s Board while offering a timely temperature check on the association’s advancement in the interests of all travel retail stakeholders.

TFWA celebrated its 40th anniversary at last year’s World Exhibition & Conference with a spectacular fireworks display.

Achievements & progress

“I’m honoured to have been elected to the board and to work with the huge talent within the management committee and TFWA team,” commented Lillis. “It’s exciting to be collaborating on so many  a strong sense of purpose and collaboration, and I’ve appreciated the opportunity to work alongside dynamic professionals who share a commitment to ethics and evolving the association into a more forward-thinking and strategically valuable organisation for its members.

“The experience has been both rewarding and energising – combining strategic planning with hands-on initiatives that are helping to shape the future of our industry.”

Asked how the new faces of TFWA are coping with the added responsibility of Board membership, all concurred that this is an aspect being firmly embraced.

Bombet said frankly: “If one isn’t able to cope with it, one should not have run for election. I did because I wasn’t at all interested in the title but only, exclusively in the ‘doing’.”

Alepochoriti added: “Listening is key. I prioritise engaging with members, gathering their feedback, and staying open to learning. This mindset of continuous improvement is essential – not just for individual personal growth, but for the association as a whole. It’s how we continue to evolve and better serve our members and the wider industry.”

A divergence of views were expressed by the new Board members when asked to identify their individual and collective achievements – latterly working alongside MC subcommittee members – to date in their respective posts.

“We’ve made strong progress in elevating the scope of our conference and research activities; on the conference side, we’re working to elevate the quality and relevance of our content, ensuring it reflects the most pressing issues facing our industry,” noted Alepochoriti.

“Additionally, we’ve worked to diversify speaker profiles (a personal priority and one that aligns with Imperial Brands’ values). We’ve also introduced more interactive formats and curated sessions that reflect the most pressing issues, reflect the evolving landscape of travel retail.”

Within the research function specifically, “groundwork” has been laid for more “robust, actionable insights”, continued Alepochoriti.

“Our subcommittee has initiated a new research partnership aimed at delivering more granular insights in consumer behaviour across regions. We’re also exploring different data tools to enhance the relevance and timeliness of our research outputs. All I can say is watch this space in the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes this year…”

Aside defining precise financial targets and adopting cautious management in the face of geopolitical turmoil, according to Bombet, the focus remains on ensuring compliance and transparency in processes and communications.

Lillis added: “Individually, I’ve worked to deepen the connection with all stakeholders, ensuring their voices shape our strategy. Contributing to the continued success of Cannes, where we’ve not only maintained momentum post-pandemic but also enhanced the commercial experience through smarter space planning and stronger brand visibility.

Open for business: (L-R) Sam Gerber, Vice President Corporate and Member Services; Philippe Margueritte, President; Franck Waechter, Managing Director; Erin Lillis, Jean-Pierre Bombet, Vice President Finance; and Loukia (Lucy) Alepochoriti, Vice President Conferences & Research.

“Collectively, our subcommittee and TFWA team are working on reshaping the Singapore event for 2026 and beyond. We’ve listened closely to member feedback and are reimagining the format to better reflect the region’s dynamism – more flexibility, more innovation, and a sharper focus on delivering ROI for exhibitors and visitors alike. It’s a collaborative effort, and I’m proud of the direction [in which] we’re heading.”

To read the full article, click here…