European Forum for Responsible Drinking appoints new chair

09 November, 2009

The European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD) has apponted a new chairman.

Guillaume de Guitaut of Moët-Hennessy will take up the role for a period of 2 years.

de Guitaut has worked in the sector since 1995 where he started as Hennessy’s legal & public affairs director, moving in 2001 to the position of global public affairs director for Moët-Hennessy, part of the LVMH Group.

He succeeds Elizabeth Crossick, director of government affairs & social responsibility at Brown-Forman, who chaired the organisation since July 2007.

de Guitaut said: “It is a great honour to take over the Chairmanship of EFRD at this important and challenging time. Strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm are being developed at both EU and international level and we are engaged in these discussions.

“I would like to congratulate my predecessor, Mrs Elizabeth Crossick, for the excellent progress EFRD has made during her term, most notably in developing tools to promote responsible drinking across Europe and in encouraging the industry to adopt responsible standards in commercial communications through self-regulation. This can be seen by looking at the commitments taken by EFRD and its member companies within the European Alcohol & Health Forum. I have every intention of building further on these strong foundations during my term.”