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Portman Group CEO Ashworth steps down

Henry Ashworth will step down as chief executive of alcohol industry watchdog the Portman Group to head the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking at the start of next year.

Henry Ashworth will leave the Portman Group after five years as its CEO

Ashworth, who has been chief executive of Portman Group for five years, will move to the IARD to act as its CEO and president in January 2017.

IARD is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to addressing harmful drinking and promoting responsible drinking at a global level.

“It’s been a rare pleasure to work with Henry for the past four years or so and I’m delighted that he’s been recruited to such a prestigious and important post,” said Sir Martin Narey, chairman of the Portman Group.

“He has led the Portman Group members through some choppy waters with skill and tenacity, challenging them, while at the same time, demonstrating to government the reality of the social responsibility of the vast majority of alcohol producers.”

The Portman Group will now begin the process of appointing a new chief executive.

Ashworth said: “It has been a great privilege to serve as chief executive of the Portman Group. In the last five years we have strengthened the UK’s self-regulatory alcohol marketing framework, and challenged the industry to go further than ever before in its efforts to support central and local government in helping to reduce alcohol-related harms.

“Drinks producers and retailers have shown that they are both willing and committed partners by voluntarily removing over one billion units of alcohol from the market, labelling over 80% of products on shelves with key health information with 90% carrying a warning about alcohol and pregnancy, providing targeted support for local communities and funding lifeskills education in schools.

“These important measures demonstrate the commitment of drinks companies to work in partnership with government to promote responsible alcohol consumption and to support the wellbeing of consumers.

“I look forward to taking up my new role at IARD and wish the Portman Group every success going forward.”

Established in the UK in1989 by the UK’s leading alcohol producers, the Portman Group’s role is primarily to support responsible marketing among drinks brands.

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