(Brussels, 6 July 2012) At FoodDrinkEurope’s Board meeting on 4 July 2012, members reconfirmed Jesús Serafín Pérez as President of the organisation for the next three years.  Mr. Perez was first appointed to the role in July 2009.

The reappointment of Mr. Pérez reconfirms the central role played by SMEs in the organisation; the President is the first ever CEO of an SME to head up the Board of Directors.  Several other Directors were also reelected, including the three Vice-Presidents and the Treasurer. This provides continuity for the incoming Board and its work, consolidating the new internal governance system of FoodDrinkEurope introduced in 2009.    

Speaking following the Board meeting, President of FoodDrinkEurope, Jesús Serafín Pérez commented:

“It is a great honour for me to continue in my role as President of FoodDrinkEurope, the organisation representing Europe’s first manufacturing industry, and to welcome the five new members to the Board of Directors.  The many important successes achieved over the past three years including the important change of governance, and the new name and logo of the organisation, illustrate just a few of the key achievements of the outgoing Board.  I am very pleased to see the level of commitment and engagement of the members of the Board and their willingness to continue in their role as Directors for the next three years.  

The new Board reemphasised the importance of FoodDrinkEurope as the key interlocutor for EU policy-makers on issues affecting Europe’s food and drink industry, and has also pledged to step up its efforts to ensure Europe’s food manufacturers’ interests are fairly and duly represented in key fora, particularly in working with EFSA, Europe’s risk assessment body, and in other key EU platforms.

I look forward to continuing the work of FoodDrinkEurope to champion the traditions and cultures strongly embedded in Europe’s food and drink industry, the vast majority of which is composed of SMEs.  Together with my Board colleagues, FoodDrinkEurope staff and the members, we aim to raise greater awareness not only of the value of the food industry to Europe as an engine for future growth but also the value that our industry brings to Europe’s citizens with the safe, high quality, tasty, affordable and sustainable food products.  

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For further information:

Lisa McCooey, Deputy Director General/ Director of Communications

Tel.: +32 2 514 11 11, Mob.: +32 476 911 300

l.mccooey@fooddrinkeurope.eu

NOTE TO EDITOR:  (ANNEX: Full list of FoodDrinkEurope Board Members)