Responsibility.org appoints new chair

Not-for-profit organisation Responsibility.org has appointed Robert Hall and Tara Engel to its board of directors.

The organisation works to eliminate drunk and underage drinking. It receives funding from leading distillers such as Bacardi USA, Campari Group, Pernod Ricard USA and Diageo.

Robert Hall, CEO of Ole Smoky Distillery, will join as chair, while Tara Engel, who serves as vice president public and national affairs for Pernod Ricard, will join him as vice chair. Both will serve in their positions for two years.

Hall will be taking over from Marc Bromfield, who has been in the role for two full terms since the start of 2019. Bromfield’s commitment to the organisation’s missions is said to have ‘paved the way for the success of the new chair and vice chair’.

As CEO of Ole Smoky, Hall has helped make the distillery the ‘most visited’ in the world and proved ‘it was possible to deliver a great consumer experience while advancing the mission of alcohol responsibility’.

He said: “I am proud of my appointment and excited for the future of Responsibility.org. I am committed to working together with industry leaders and advocates on our collective missions, and I am confident that Responsibility.org will continue to make a positive impact on advancing alcohol responsibility in 2024 and beyond.”

Engel, meanwhile, has 30 years of public affairs experience, including 20 years at Pernod Ricard where she held leadership positions.

At Pernod, she was described as playing a ‘pivotal’ role in ‘leveraging the distilled spirits industry during the Covid-19 pandemic by transitioning distilleries to the production of hand sanitiser, making a meaningful impact on the nation’s safety and wellbeing during a time of national public health crisis’.

She also helped lead Pernod Ricard’s engagement with Responsibility.org.

On her new role, Engles said: “Pernod Ricard is proud of the work that we do every day to embrace responsibility, and I am eager to take on this new challenge and help to advance the mission of Responsibility.org.

“This is not just a job — the work we do saves lives. Responsibility.org has taken the role of industry seriously, and will continue to effectively engage leaders across the board to have a real impact on safety,” she added.

Five-year plan

Along with the board reshuffle, Responsibility.org has approved a five-year strategic plan, which will launch this year.

The organisation says the plan will include campaigns on responsible drinking and defining its role in relation to mental health.

Hall and Engel will be supported in their roles by Responsibility.org’s independent National Advisory Board.

“We are excited to unveil our new strategic plan, which will allow us to dive deeper into our mission areas,” added Leslie Kimball, executive director of Responsibility.org.

“Robert’s and Tara’s leadership, along with the work of our entire membership, will be key in ensuring that we continue to see declines in underage drinking and drunk driving and educate American adults about alcohol responsibility.”