Stanislas de Gramont, CEO, Suntory Beverage and Food Europe (SBFE), has been elected president of UNESDA, Soft Drinks Europe. He takes up his role with immediate effect and his tenure will run until May 2018.

Assuming the presidency at the UNESDA board meeting in Ljubljana last week, Mr de Gramont pledged continuity and support for the sector in the great work it was carrying out.

“I take over as President at a time of fast-moving challenges facing our sector,” said de Gramont.” “I’m pleased to notice that we are the only sector that has made significant improvement in removing sugar and calories from its products. Our far reaching efforts in calorie reduction and promotion of no- and low-sugar varieties are a good answer to our consumer needs”. He underlined the importance of upholding the right to use the ingredients the industry needs in order to get further results.

De Gramont added, “We will continue to inform our stakeholders of these great results and I am determined to use the wealth of data and proof points that we have gathered to provide a constructive and evidence-based contribution to discussions at national and EU level. While I am certainly not complacent, I do believe that we are on the right track”.

De Gramont also said he was proud of the great progress made by the industry over the last decade in the field of environmental sustainability and he will continue to encourage continuity in this domain.

De Gramont, who is 51, is a graduate of Essec Business School in France and has spent his career in the food and drink industry including senior roles in Danone. He joined SBFE in January 2014.Stanislas lives in London and is married with four children.

The new president will now work with his Board and committees to set in place a programme for the next 24 months.