Drinks trade charity The Benevolent names 2019 chairman

Drinks trade charity The Benevolent has named Michael Saunders, chief executive of Bibendum PLB, as its new chairman, who will succeed Tom Yusef in 2019, as well as a number of  new trustee appointments.

His official appointment as the new chairman will be announced at The Vintners’ Company Annual Wine Trade Lunch on Friday, 11 January, 2019.

Saunders will also be made a trustee of the charity, along with Troy Christensen, chief executive of Enotria&Coe, and Tom King, managing director of Europe for Treasury Wine Estates.

The three new Trustees join as part of the charity’s plans to expand the reach of support to help more vulnerable members of the wider UK drinks industry.

The Benevolent chief executive Chris Porter said: “I am so pleased to have three new Trustees for The Benevolent who will not only bring great business acumen and further experience to our Board of Trustees, but three who truly understand the mission and core values of the Charity.

“As industry leaders they have all been so supportive of The Benevolent as Corporate Partners, at our events and encouraging their own teams to get behind the trade charity with individual fundraising. They have all led by example in their own companies. I am therefore truly delighted that we will have such a positive and progressive boost to our governance in the coming months and years as we build on our success, awareness and support to those in need in our Trade”.

To maintain the charity’s “drive for continued success in its operations”, it has already confirmed that Saunders will be succeeded by Troy Christensen, who will become chairman of the charity in January 2021.