Board of Director elections were recently conducted during the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) annual general meeting held in Lublin, Poland from 18-20 May 2016.
Hosted by the Lublin Wholesale Market JSC in Elizówka, in collaboration with the Union of Polish Wholesale Markets (SPRH), this WUWM conference was held under the theme: “Fresh Markets: Permanent Evolution in Times of Change”. More than 150 food market professionals from 28 countries explored issues such as modern green technologies supporting wholesale and retail markets, countering fake food on the market, the situation and future direction of central and east European markets, and the benefits and practices of introducing flowers to the wholesale market.
During the event, Dr Donald J. Darnall, Executive Director of the Maryland Food Centre Authority (MFCA) in Baltimore, USA assumed the position of WUWM Chairman, succeeding Manuel Estrada-Nora, Chief of the International Department in Mercasa, Madrid, Spain. Additionally, Mr Zengjun MA, Chairman of the Chinese Association of Wholesale Markets (CAWA) was elected the WUWM vice-Chairman.
On his succession to the Chair position, Dr Darnall noted his enthusiasm for being offered the opportunity to once again serve WUWM as its Chairman informing:
“While I have been a member since 1989 and this is the second time I have been trusted with the honor to serve as your Chairman, this will be the first time for me to serve many of you and to lead this organization during these current times of significant change. I am honored to work side by side with the WUWM Board of Directors who have expressed to me their commitment to ensure this organization both remains a significant force in shaping world policy regarding the role of fresh food markets, and provides outstanding value to its membership”, he said.
Dr Darnall thanked outgoing Chairman Manuel Estrada-Nora: “Manuel is leaving behind an organization that is both performing extremely well and has achieved a higher worldwide significance than ever before in its history.
“I see my primary challenge as Chairman, as continuing the great work that has preceded me, and continually improving on our organization’s current success. To begin we will explore new administrative approaches combined with new ways to utilize technology to continue producing exciting and informative conferences, and to potentially develop new ways to deliver more valuable, and possibly real-time conference content and host market information to those of our members who because of time, financial, political or other constraints are unable to personally attend our conferences” he said.
Additional to the Chairman’s succession and the election of Mr Zengjun MA, CAWA Chairman, as WUWM vice Chairman, four Director positions on the WUWM Board were also open to election. Those persons successful in being elected to a Director position were:
• Laurent Nys, Managing Director, Mabru, Belgium
• Jean-Paul Auguste, President, Groupe Geraud, France
• Josep Tejedo, Managing Director, Mercabarna, Barcelona, Spain
• Eliane Steinmeyer, Managing Director, Hamburg Market, Germany
These persons now serve mandates through until May 2018, and they join the remainder of the WUWM Board of Directors (mandated until May 2017) which includes:
• Stéphane Layani, Chairman, SEMMARIS – Rungis International Market, France
• Grzegorz Hempowicz, Chairman, Poznan Market, Poland
• J.S. Yadav, Premium Market, India
• Andres de Pando, Director, Mercasa, Spain
• Ioannis (John) Triantafyllis, CEO, Athens Central Market, Greece
• Maurio Maurici de Lima Morais, former ABRACEN Chairman, Brazil
• Fabio Massimo Pallottini, Chairman CAR Spa, Rome, Italy
Two departing Board members now leaving the markets sector - Timo Taulavuori, former Managing Director of the City of Helsinki Market, Finland and Jan Lloyd, CEO of the New Covent Garden Market in London, UK – were also acknowledged and thanked for their past work and long-term involvement in the association.
For more information, please visit the WUWM website at: www.wuwm.org.