spiritsEUROPE has elected Manu Giró as new President of the organisation, succeeding Christian Porta, Managing Director, Global Business Development at Pernod Ricard, who stood at the helm of the organisation for the past four years.
Following his election during the November’s General Assembly, he is assuming the role of President for a term of two years. Based in Barcelona, Mr. Giró is the CEO of MG Destilerias, a family-owned distillery founded at the end of 19th century. MG owns a premium portfolio of different spirits brands and is present in more than 50 markets worldwide.
The new President will play a key role in helping to promote, protect and grow the European spirits sector in the EU and in third markets. Taking the florr after his election, Mr Giro underlined that from farm to glass, spirits are an integral part of Europe’s culinary culture of quality, pleasure and conviviality. He saluted the legacy of hismy predecessor Christian Porta who successfully steered the organisation through the challenging circumstances of the past years.
President Giró also said it was a great honour and responsibility for him to take on the leadership of spiritsEUROPE and represent such an iconic sector with its global reputation for quality, innovation, and export success. His main objective will be to drive forward the sector’s ambitious roadmap and commitments in the areas of environmental sustainability, consumer information, digital labelling, product innovation, and responsible drinking.
Together with the membership and the Secretariat, he looks forward to working with partners and interlocutors in the EU Institutions to ensure that EU policies structurally support the spirits sector in acting as an engine for the recovery, by delivering jobs and growth in the hospitality sector and across the many rural areas in which most of Europe’s spirits production is rooted.
