December 11, 2025
Sarah Branquinho named new TFWA President
As the first woman to hold the presidency, Branquinho's appointment underscores the sector’s continued progress towards more inclusive leadership
Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has announced that Sarah Branquinho has been elected President following a vote by the TFWA Management Committee. She succeeds Philippe Margueritte, who held the role for the past year.
A highly respected and long-standing figure within global duty free and travel retail, Branquinho brings decades of industry leadership, advocacy, and commercial expertise to the presidency. Her appointment reflects both her exceptional contribution to the sector and TFWA’s commitment to strong, future-focused governance.
A career dedicated to the advancement of duty free and travel retail
Sarah currently serves as President of the Duty Free World Council (DFWC), where she is a prominent advocate for the industry and its essential role in supporting transport infrastructure and enhancing the global passenger experience.
Her career-long dedication to advocacy began early. Appointed as the first Commercial Director of TFWA, she went on to play a central role in the duty- and tax-free industry’s campaign against the abolition of intra-EU duty-free sales, serving as Secretary General of the European Travel Research Foundation from 1995.
Branquinho’s commercial career includes senior roles at BAA and World Duty Free, later expanding her remit to Aldeasa following Autogrill’s acquisition. After the formation of World Duty Free Group and its subsequent acquisition by Dufry, she was appointed Director of External Affairs for the global retailer. After stepping down from Dufry in 2018, she worked as a consultant to Dufry in External Affairs and assisted Dufry in strengthening the company’s commitment to building an inclusive, culturally sensitive, and globally diverse workforce.
Most recently, Sarah led the duty free industry’s successful evidence-based campaign that resulted in the WHO’s decision at MOP4 to close discussions on any link between duty free sales and illicit tobacco trade, marking a definitive end to allegations which the industry has always strongly disputed.
A historic milestone
Sarah’s election as TFWA President represents a historic breakthrough for the Association and the wider travel retail community. As the first woman to hold the presidency, her appointment underscores the sector’s continued progress towards more balanced and inclusive leadership. Her one-year mandate will run until December 2026.
