Julian Braithwaite has been confirmed as the next head of the London-based NGO, filling the vacancy created at the end of last year when Henry Ashworth moved on after seven years. The body, which has 13 multinational brand owner members including Anheuser-Busch InBev, Beam Suntory and Diageo, said Braithwaite has commenced his duties this week.
Braithwaite’s career in the civil service dates back to 1994, when he joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. He spent two years as speech writer for then Prime Minister Tony Blair between 2000 and 2002, spending the last year as director general for international partnerships to combat people smuggling at the Home Office.
“Julian has extensive experience of building relationships across sectors and delivering impact, through his work in the diplomatic service,” said Pernod Ricard CEO – and current IARD chair – Alex Ricard. “I look forward to working alongside him to … demonstrate the transformative power of a whole-of-society approach to reduce harmful drinking.”
IARD’s member companies, all of whom fund the organisation, are:
- Anheuser-Busch InBev
- Asahi
- Bacardi
- Beam Suntory
- Brown-Forman
- Carlsberg
- Diageo
- Heineken
- Kirin
- Moët Hennessy
- Molson Coors Beverage Co
- Pernod Ricard, and
- William Grant & Sons
