« back
28.01.2008
NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE ESMA
by Secretary-general Mr. J.W.B. Baron van Till:
As per the beginning of 2008 Mr. Richard Onion has retired as Chief Executive of the European Sales and Marketing Association (ESMA). Mr. Onion has been succeeded by Mr. Klaus Smuda.
Mr. Smuda was introduced to Mr. Wolfgang Hinderer and Mr. Jaap van Till by Mr. Onion during a meeting in Berlin in December 2007. Also present was the President of ESMA Mr. Karsten Ørnbo. On the occasion of this meeting Mr. Smuda and Mr. Ørnbo confirmed their continued interest in ESMA’s affiliated Membership of IUCAB. Being able to voice the interests of its Members towards the European Governmental Institutions is considered as one of the main benefits derived from its affiliated IUCAB Membership. Next thereto the legal support made available by the IUCAB network and being weekly updated on actions in progress through the lobbying organisation EuroCommerce in Belgium are also highly valued.
From the side of IUCAB Mr. Hinderer and Mr. Van Till reconfirmed that they were delighted to have ESMA as an affiliate Member and that they looked forward to the continuing of this excellent relationship which was started up nearly a decade ago. ESMA is a pan-European Trade Association of Europe’s finest sales and marketing organisations, specialising in selling, marketing and distributing packaged consumer goods (PCG). ESMA’s Membership is drawn from the top level of commercial agents, distributors and sales & marketing companies in Europe. International Membership is also open to sales & marketing companies based outside of Europe. PCG manufacturers are also encouraged to join ESMA as Associate Members. The aims of ESMA are to promote and safeguard the interests of its Members, and to help PCG manufacturers find the best partners for expansion in Europe, both in home and export markets.
IUCAB gratefully acknowledges the important contribution made by Mr. Onion for the development of the relations between IUCAB and ESMA. Mr. Hinderer and Mr. Van Till expressed their gratitude to Mr. Onion on the occasion of the meeting in Berlin and welcomed his successor Mr. Smuda as the new Chief Executive of ESMA.
More information on ESMA can be found when clicking on the ESMA logo in the “Partners Chapter” on the IUCAB website (www.esma.org).