Poley steps up to become Portman chief executive

David Poley, director of compliance and good practice at drinks lobby body The Portman Group, is to become chief executive when Jean Coussins leaves this year.

David Poley, director of compliance and good practice at drinks lobby body The Portman Group, is to become chief executive when Jean Coussins leaves this year.

Coussins has played a key role in turning the lobby group’s Drinkaware responsible drinking scheme into an independent charity. She intends to leave once the Drinkaware Trust is active.

She has been tipped to replace Andrew Brown as director-general of the Advertising Association when he retires, although a Portman spokeswoman says Coussins has not been approached.

The Drinkaware Trust will bring together the alcohol industry, lobby groups and medical specialists to address alcohol misuse. The drinks industry has agreed to put at least &£12m into the new trust over the next three years (MW January 12).

The Portman Group will revert to administering the alcohol industry’s self-regulatory marketing code and lobbying government once the trust is operational.

A Portman spokeswoman says an acting chief executive will be appointed to the trust within the next month.

⢠Jeremy Preston, head of the Advertising Association’s Food Advertising Unit, leaves the organisation tomorrow. His role will be handled by AA director general Andrew