February 25 2022  |  Associations

Nigel Keal named UK Travel Retail Forum's interim Chair

By GTR Magazine staff

The UK Travel Retail Forum’s Board of Directors have unanimously appointed Nigel Keal (pictured above) as the association’s interim Chair. Keal will take over the chairpersonship from Rachel Bulford, Retail Director at London Gatwick Airport, on a temporary basis when she goes on maternity leave at the end of March.

Keal was appointed to the Board as a temporary independent director, before being voted in as interim Chair. His appointment received unanimous support from the Board, and will be formally endorsed by the membership at UKTRF’s Annual General Meeting.

He brings with him three decades of senior experience in duty free and travel retail, in positions across operations, merchandising, purchasing and procurement. Keal joined Dufry as Procurement Director in 2006, before becoming Global Commercial Director, a position he held until early 2021.

In addition to his wealth of professional experience, UKTRF will also benefit from Keal’s impressive network and his experience at the European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC). Keal has been a member of the ETRC Board since 2010, serving as its President between 2019 and January 2022.

Commenting on the appointment of her temporary successor, the current UKTRF Chair Rachel Bulford said:“Though he will be operating independently from existing commitments, Nigel’s experience as a commercial director in travel retail, coupled with his involvement in the ETRC, will be a powerful combination for UKTRF.

“I am confident that under Nigel’s leadership UKTRF is in good hands. His wealth of relevant experience will help us to deliver on our 2022 objectives and expand our membership base at a time when the recovery of our sector remains precarious.”

Commenting on his appointment, Keal said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the interim Chair of UKTRF. I am sure I speak for all UKTRF’s members in thanking Rachel for her hard work to date. Rachel has been an outstanding Chair and a highly effective voice for UKTRF as the travel industry emerges from one of the most challenging periods in its history.

“I look forward to furthering Rachel’s work and collaborating with the UKTRF Board to campaign for measures that will support the industry’s recovery, such as the introduction of duty free on arrival stores.”

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