Natalie DeHart – the newly appointed Executive Director at IAADFS.

The International Association of Airport and Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) Board of Directors is welcoming Natalie DeHart as the association’s new Executive Director.

The news comes as part of a transition that sees Steve Antolick stepping away from his role at the association after more than 30 years of dedicated service.

DeHart is said to bring extensive experience in association leadership and management through her work at Smithbucklin, where she currently supports the National Demolition Association (NDA) and the Neurocritical Care Foundation.

In her role, DeHart will partner with the IAADFS Board to deliver ‘new member benefits, lead strategic planning and enhance advocacy and resources for the travel retail industry’.

She is described as having a ‘collaborative, strategic and forward-looking approach’ to work, excelling at ‘strengthening membership engagement and growth, implementing operational efficiencies and providing disciplined financial oversight’.

Among her achievements are growing revenue for NDA’s Annual Convention by 45% since 2018 and helping raise $1.7 million for the Neurocritical Care Foundation in four years to support critical research.

In a statement announcing the news, IAADFS highlighted the important moment to recognise Antolick’s leadership, commitment and lasting contributions through the years, stating: ‘We are deeply grateful for his decades of service’.

The association also said the transition represents ‘an opportunity for the organisation to evolve into a more modern, forward-thinking trade association’, with fresh leadership making it ‘well-positioned to enter our next chapter focused on growth, relevance, and long-term impact for our members’.

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