Portman Group chooses new members for complaints panel

UK alcohol watchdog the Portman Group has selected four new members to join its independent complaints panel for alcohol marketing following a “strong field” of applicants.

The Portman Group has appointed four new members to its independent complaints panel for alcohol marketing

Rosalie Weetman, Angela McNab, Jon Collins and David MacDonald will join the independent complaints panel, as professor Roy Light and professor Isabelle Szmigin step down from their posts.

Weetman has worked in the criminal justice and health sectors for more than 20 years, and is currently the public health lead for alcohol, drugs and tobacco at Derbyshire County Council.

McNab is chief executive of a London mental health trust and brings 16 years’ experience of working as a senior executive in the NHS (National Health Service) to the panel.

Collins’ career spans more than 20 years in the hospitality industry covering policy, licencing and research roles, and also working as chief executive of customer experience consultancy CGA.

Macdonald was a police officer in Scotland for 20 years and has been a representative of the force at strategic level partnerships, and as a result has worked closely with licensed trade bodies, local authorities and other stakeholders.

Each of the members will work on the panel for three years after which they will be given the option to continue for a second third-year stint.

Jenny Watson CBE, chair of the independent complaints panel, who made the appointments, said: “The independent complaints panel members uphold the standards for alcohol marketing and packaging as set out in the Portman Group Codes of Practice.

“Our new members bring a broad range and depth of experience to the panel, which will further enhance our decision making.”

In May this year, Portman Group launched a fifth “major” review of its Code of Practice.