APTRA appoints Sunil Tuli president

The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) has named Sunil Tuli president as Grant Fleming plans to step down from the role at the end of April.

Sunil Tuli has been named the new president of APTRA

Fleming, president of APTRA and head of strategic development – Asia, Lagardère Travel Retail will step down from his presidency of APTRA to take on a new role with a global business outside of travel retail.

The APTRA board voted for Tuli, group chief executive of King Power Group (Hong Kong), to take over as the new president of APTRA.

Tuli said: “On behalf of the APTRA board, I’d like to wish Grant every success in his new venture and to thank him for his leadership since May 2019, especially during the unprecedented challenges of the last three months.

“Grant has spearheaded APTRA’s campaign across Asia Pacific, making a powerful case for the vital role travel retail plays in the wider economy in terms of employment and contribution to GDP.

“His drive has focused on gaining government commitment to include travel retail in financial support packages, engaging valuable news media across the region and galvanising greater involvement from APTRA members, such as equipping them with the tools to target governments direct. I will build on Grant’s call to action and am asking for the support of everyone in the travel retail community.

“There has never been a more critical time for all industry players to work together and, if you’re not involved in supporting our various associations, then please consider how you could help. APTRA is at its strongest member number since inception 15 years ago, meaning we have a tremendous power base to harness when our members join with APTRA to actively target their governments and political contacts, adding to the volume that travel retail must be included in financial support measures for the aviation industry.”

Time to support the industry

Speaking about his departure from the travel retail sector, Fleming said the last 15 years had been “tremendously exciting” for the industry and that he had been honoured to act as APTRA president.

“Representing APTRA as president has been an enormous honour. I’m pleased to pass the reigns to Sunil’s capable hands,” Fleming said. “Despite the current crisis, travel retail in Asia Pacific is, without question, the most dynamic region in this industry and I have every faith in its potential to recover and grow even stronger, sooner or later.

“In these tough times, I want to encourage all businesses in travel retail to be more actively involved in the campaign right now. Here in Asia and the Pacific, the industry is stretched by the diversity of its players, broad geography and the wide spectrum of political stakeholders.

“I believe the unique, collective view and commitment of independent associations such as APTRA, and our sister associations around the world, acting for all aspects of the industry, are essential – now is the time to support the industry; you’re individual actions and responses will be all the stronger for sharing expertise and working together.”