ASIA PACIFIC. Lagardère Travel Retail Head of Strategic Development Asia, Grant Fleming, has been elected as President of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA). He succeeds Andrew Ford of Chabot Armagnac.
Speaking to The Moodie Davitt Report today he said he would “personally call on more of the industry to join and be active with APTRA to strengthen the unified voice we already present”.
Elections took place yesterday at APTRA’s annual general meeting during the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in Singapore.
Fleming – who has wide experience of the Asia Pacific travel retail business – has been on the APTRA board since May 2017 as Treasurer, a role that has been taken on by Pan Yar Hing from Japan Tobacco International. Fleming joined Lagardère Travel Retail’s Australia business in January 2006 and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Operations and Marketing Asia in 2011. He was appointed to his current role as Head of Strategic Development Asia in March 2018.
He commented: “It is a great honour to be elected President of APTRA. In taking up this important role, I commit to continuing the excellent work that has been done by my predecessors to sustain and develop the duty free and travel retail industry in the Asia Pacific region.
“I wish to convey the thanks and appreciation of the board and our 116 corporate members to Andrew, who has led the association with energy and dedication over the past two years in addition to several years as an active board member. APTRA has achieved some significant successes in the field of advocacy and research and I am determined to continue the forward momentum.”
He told The Moodie Davitt Report: “As we have gathered more calls to action from our members, and the industry, we have also started to act out more. This momentum needs to continue to support the industry and we shall do so.”
Ford added: “The work of APTRA and its sister associations is fundamental to the welfare and security of our industry. Challenges appear without warning and we have to be ready. APTRA has put in place an archive of solid research to underpin our work, including the forthcoming Economic Impact Report Asia Pacific which provides essential data about the vital role our industry plays in local and national economies. In passing the baton to Grant and the new board, I am confident the association is in good hands.”
Prior to the TFWA Asia Pacific show, APTRA hosted an Airport Forum at Singapore Changi Airport, attended by over 40 delegates from 14 airports. It included a tour of Jewel. Presentations included shaping the customer journey from Kansai Airport; research from NPD on ‘Understanding Young China’; and Changi Airport’s take on regulatory pressures across Asia Pacific. APTRA also held an Insights Seminar with KPMG on 15 May which was attended by 45 delegates.
