UNESDA Appoints New Director General Sigrid Ligné to Lead Soft Drinks Industry Association in Europe

07 Jun 2013 --- UNESDA, representing the non-alcoholic beverages industry in Europe, has appointed Sigrid Ligné as director general.

Elected at the UNESDA AGM in Lisbon last week, she takes up the Brussels-based role immediately and will be responsible for driving the interests and image of the soft drinks sector across Europe. Ms Ligné, who is a dual French/Swedish national, has 17 years’ experience in Brussels and has been responsible for advocacy and communications campaigns for a range of corporations and associations.

“We are delighted to welcome Sigrid to the helm at UNESDA,” commented UNESDA president Dominique Reiniche.  “Our sector is well-established in Brussels and is recognised for the far-reaching commitments it has made to the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health including not advertising to children under 12 on TV, print or online and not offering our products for sale in primary schools across the EU.”

Currently our sector faces unprecedented challenges in the areas of health and nutrition. While experts acknowledge that obesity is a complex, multifactoral problem with no easy, silver-bullet solutions, our sector must demonstrate that we can be part of the solution, working together with other food sectors, governments and civil society. This will require strong leadership from us in taking bold initiatives that confirm our responsible practices and the place that our products can have in a balanced diet and lifestyle.”

Commenting on her appointment Ms Ligné said, “I am excited to be joining such a dynamic economic sector.  I look forward to working with members to develop stakeholder understanding of our sector and the significant steps it is taking to promote balanced and healthy lifestyles.”

UNESDA , which was founded in 1958, the same year as the European Economic Community,  has 11 corporate members and 22 National Association members and represents the non-alcoholic beverages sector including squashes, fruit drinks, carbonates, nectars, energy drinks and sports drinks.  The industry offers a wide variety and choice of flavours, packaging formats and portion sizes to suit every drinking occasion and provides a full range of no- and low-calorie products which account for up to 30% of soft drinks sales in many European markets.

Ms Ligné holds a post graduate European Law degree from the University of Rennes in France and a post graduate Advanced European Studies degree from the College of Europe in Bruges.  She started her career in the legal service of the Council of the EU and the European Commission and was most recently secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association. Sigrid succeeds Alain Beaumont who was UNESDA secretary general from 1991 until present.