The International Association of Airport and Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) today (24 May) re-elected Dufry’s René Riedi as Chairman of the Board through June 2024.

IAADFS also announced its new leadership and governance structure for the coming year, with the membership voting the following Board of Directors to serve on additional terms: Erasmo Orillac (Motta Internacional), Mark Mariani (3Sixty Duty Free), and Enrique Urioste (Dufry).

Other officers re-elected were Padraig Drennan (Stellar Partners Inc.) as Vice Chair and Erasmo Orillac as Treasurer and Audit Chair.

Additional Board members currently serving on the Board include Nuno do Amaral (ARI), Michael Halpern (International Shoppes), David Bernstein (Carisam), and Louis Snelders (Duty Free Shop).

‘Building momentum’

“It is an honour to be again selected by my peers to continue serving in the role of Chairman of IAADFS,” said Riedi.

“I deeply appreciate the support of my fellow Board members in devoting time as volunteer leaders for the organisation as we look toward an ever-changing, challenging, but extremely positive trajectory for the duty free and travel retail industry.”

IAADFS President and CEO Michael Payne commented: “Our focus has been and continues to be exploring ideas and approaches to better serve our membership and the overall industry.

“Rene brings his years of experience and knowledge of the industry to help guide us in addressing member needs and focusing on those advocacy issues impacting the industry.

“We want to build on the momentum from our successful Summit last month in West Palm Beach to better support and advance the growth of duty free and travel retail, and René is committed to that goal.”

As reported, the 2023 Summit of the Americas attracted 1,178 delegates – an increase of +34% year-on-year.