Beadles honoured with Special Contribution award

Jeremy Beadles, outgoing chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, was recognised for his work at The Drinks Business Awards with the presentation of a Special Contribution prize.

In this first part in a series of profiles on this year’s winners in The Drinks Business Awards 2012, we highlight just some of the reasons that made Beadles such a worthy recipient of this prize.

Announcing the award, Bibendum’s managing director Michael Saunders praised Beadles for his “fantastic job on behalf of his members and the trade.”

Describing the evolution of the WSTA under his leadership into “a force to be reckoned with,” Saunders highlighted the way in which Beadles “led the debate on behalf of the trade during a time of increasing political pressure and, while getting into the heat of the debate, he always steered the trade to very sensible positions.”

After six years as chief executive of the WSTA, Beadles left the organisation at the beginning of this year to become corporate relations director at Heineken UK.

Under his leadership, the WSTA’s achievements included the successful merger with the Gin & Vodka Association, establishment of an anti-fraud unit, launch of a fully-funded subsidiary to roll out the Community Alcohol Partnerships scheme and development of the Responsibility Deal.

For a full list of this year’s db award winners, click here.