Treasury Wine Estate's Dan Townsend becomes Benevolent chairman

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 12 January, 2015

Dan Townsend, UK chief of Treasury Wine Estates, will take over from Porter & Laker boss Chris Porter as new chairman of the Benevolent.

Dan Townsend, Treasury Wine Estates Dan Townsend, Treasury Wine Estates UK boss, takes up the mantle as Benevolent chair

Townsend has held senior roles at Matthew Clark, Constellation Europe and Louis Latour Agencies prior to his current role as general manager UK, Ireland and Western Europe at Treasury Wine Estates.

Townsend has said he will use his "extensive contacts and expertise to further raise the profile of the Benevolent charity in the UK drinks industry and encourage increased engagement and financial support from the wider trade".

Townsend's two year appointment was announced at The Vintners' Company Annual Wine Trade Lunch which was attended by 120 senior members of the drinks trade at Vintner's Hall on January 9.

At the event, Townsend announced his flagship fundraising initiative for 2015 as the Thames Path Challenge taking place on September 12 and 13. Participants can walk, jog or run the the 50 kilometre challenge, which follows the Thames from Putney Bridge through to Runnymede in Berkshire. Townsend and his Treasury Wine Estates colleagues will be taking part in the challenge but he is also encouraging members of the trade to join the team and raise funds on behalf of the Benevolent.

The Vintners' Benevolent award, also presented at the lunch, went to Craggy Range's Warren Adamson for his Deloitte 'Ride Across Britain' 969 miles cycle challenge in September 2014, which raised over £4,000 for the charity.

"I am delighted and honoured to have been invited to chair the Benevolent for the next two years. I have been an active supporter of the Benevolent's activities for many years but since my closer involvement as a trustee over the last two years it has been wonderful to support and see the great work that the team do at closer quarters helping those within our great industry with much needed assistance. I am really looking forward to working with David Cox and the Benevolent team over the next two years to raise awareness and engagement across the drinks trade," Townsend said.

David Cox, chief executive of the Benevolent, said: "Since joining the Benevolent I have been wonderfully supported by a highly engaged and effective board of trustees, chaired by an incredible chairman, Chris Porter. He has achieved so much by personally raising a huge amount of money for the charity but also by providing superb leadership. As he steps down and we welcome Dan Townsend I am truly looking forward to a new phase of success and working with Dan to broaden further the awareness and the vibrancy of this amazing and much-needed trade charity."

Last week's annual lunch raised £10,000 for the charity.

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