Chris Porter to take over from David Cox as CEO of The Benevolent

Chris Porter, the director of Porter & Laker, the fine wine division of logistics company JF Hillebrand, is to become the new CEO of drinks trade charity The Benevolent, taking over from the eminent David Cox who has announced his retirement.

Chris Porter, during his Around the Grounds charity challenge in 2014

Porter will take on his new post as of January 2018 after 34 years with JF Hillebrand. Over three decades, Porter has successfully overseen the growth of freight forwarding family business Porter & Laker Ltd, which serves the UK independent trade, through its transition to becoming a successful part of JF Hillebrand.

“We are very proud to have one of the key members of our team joining the Benevolent to perpetuate and contribute to the tradition of supporting the most vulnerable people in our industry,” said Sebastien Desreumaux, managing director of JF Hillebrand UK. “With his humility and dedication, there is no better man for the job.”

For the past 16 years, Chris has been actively involved in supporting the Benevolent, as a trustee, and as its Chairman in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, Porter took part in a gruelling challenge which saw his visit all 91 of the UK’s league football grounds without a car in just 14-days to raise just under £30,000 for the charity. 

“It was always going to take something very special for me to move anywhere after a very rewarding and enjoyable 34 years with two wonderful family businesses. The Benevolent is that something very special. It is a fantastic opportunity for me and represents everything that I believe in. I look forward to building on the terrific impact made by David Cox over the last four years, driving the charity further forwards as we develop our strategic goals.”

His appointment signals the departure of David Cox, a hugely respected and well-liked member of the UK drinks trade, who joined the charity as its CEO in 2013.

This year, David was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Drinks Business Awards, a fitting tribute to his 32-year career in the drinks industry.

Over that time, he has held a number of roles covering everything from brand development to export director for the UK’s largest wholesale business, Matthew Clark. After leaving that company in 1995, David established the Brown Forman wine business in Europe, later taking up a position as director of New Zealand Winegrowers where he remained for 14 years. He was appointed head of the UK drinks charity The Benevolent in 2013.

“When approached by the trustees of The Benevolent in 2013, I always knew that this role would represent an incredibly rewarding and very fitting end to an immensely enjoyable career in this fantastic trade of ours. This has definitely been the case,” said David on the role.

During his time at the charity, the number of corporate partners has increased by over 90% and the revenue from their annual donations has increased by over 95%. In 2013, a strategic decision was taken by the charity to move away from owning physical retirement and care homes to instead providing much broader support tailored to meet the needs of current members of the trade as well as retired employees, heralding the introduction of “emotional and practical” support alongside financial help.

It led to the creation of the ‘Here to Help’ campaign, under Cox’s leadership, which was devised to raise awareness of the charity among the wider UK drinks industry. Since Cox’s appointment, the welfare support provided by the charity has increased by 112%, doubling the cases of support since 2013.

“David has demonstrated an innovative and superb leadership, which has taken the charity to a completely different level since his appointment,” said Tom Yusef, current Chairman of The Benevolent on the contribution of Cox.

“I am delighted that Chris, who I have known for 27 years and worked with for 23 of those years, is already taking such a hands-on approach to his new role and I look forward to working with the team to ensure the growth and development of The Benevolent under Chris’ fresh and energetic leadership. Chris is ideally placed to engage all sectors of the trade and raise even more awareness of the important work of the charity.”

As for David, he is looking forward to spending more time with his family, taking up cookery and photography and playing more tennis.

“I have loved being part of this trade and so will not disappear completely,” he said. “I will still be seen at trade tastings and, if invited, still making a spectacle of myself on the dance floor!  My only disappointment is that my twin brother Michael and I were planning to retire at the same time and dribble and moan about life together but at least people are now spared that sight!”

One of David’s many fabulous outfits.