FRANCE. Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has named John Rimmer (left) as its new Managing Director, effective 1 October. Alain Maingreaud, who has held the role since 2010, is assuming a new part-time position as Associate Director. Until now Rimmer has been Conference, Research and Corporate Affairs Director.
Maingreaud (below right), who has been with the association since 1995, is taking on the role with a view to combining personal projects with his new position at TFWA. He will report to Rimmer, assisting him on various projects including the organisation of the association’s two biggest events, TFWA World Exhibition & Conference and TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference.
Rimmer, who joined TFWA in October 2012, has been involved in the duty free and travel retail industry for 17 years. As Managing Director, he will report to the TFWA President, assuming responsibility for the association’s events and activities, and helping define the strategy approved by the board and management committee, said TFWA.
Commenting on the changes, TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen said; “Alain has been a stalwart of the association and has made an extremely important contribution to its success for over 20 years. The board and management committee are very grateful to him for his work over the years and we are delighted that he will continue to serve TFWA as Associate Director, providing support to John and the permanent staff on a number of projects.
“John is known to many people in the industry, and in his five years with TFWA so far he has driven a number of successful new initiatives as well as strengthening our vital conferences & research division.
“He has also played a significant role in managing the association’s charity initiative, TFWA Care. We are certain he is the right person to lead the association’s next phase of development, and to strengthen our links with industry stakeholders – firstly our members and exhibitors, but also all those who visit our events, along with trade associations, press and partners around the globe.
“As part of his overall responsibilities, John will continue to oversee the running of TFWA’s conferences, assisted by Conference Manager Michele Miranda, and research & corporate, assisted by Maha Abdennbi and Sabine Parmentier.
“The board, management committee and staff of TFWA look forward to working closely with John, who will have the full support of the whole team as we move into an exciting new phase for the association.”
Rimmer is a graduate of Christ’s College, Cambridge University, where he was awarded a first-class degree in modern & medieval languages. Within duty free and travel retail he served as Editor of Duty-Free News International from 2004 to 2006, when he joined French travel retailer Aelia (now Lagardère Travel Retail) as Deputy Director of Business Development. In 2010 he returned to the UK to join The Moodie Report (now The Moodie Davitt Report) as Executive Director Business Development, before joining TFWA in 2012.
Dermot Davitt writes: John Rimmer has established himself as a hugely valuable (and highly valued) member of the TFWA permanent team since he joined the organisation in 2012. An accomplished conference organiser and team leader, he moves now to the highly demanding, multi-faceted top management role at TFWA, overseeing the travel retail world’s two biggest exhibitions, as well as a diverse conference and research business. We wish our former colleague well.
