Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491356
STiR tea & coffee industry international 11 NEWS William Murray Named NCA President new York CitY, NY – The National Coffee As- sociation named William M. (Bill) Murry president and ceo, effective June 1. Murray is currently ceo of the Public Relations Soci- ety of America (PRSA). "We set out to find a new leader with passion, vision and the credentials to take the NCA to a future even brighter than its past, and we achieved that goal by finding Bill Murray," said NCA chair John E. Boyle. "NCA is proud to present such a highly qualified and accomplished business and association professional, as well as strategic and creative thinker," he said. "I am excited by the opportunity to guide a dynamic trade association serving the iconic U.S. coffee industry at an important juncture in its honored history," said Murray. "I feel privileged and honored for the opportunity to lead NCA to new heights of relevance, member value and industry service that project its preeminent organizational status and provide a robust, contemporary platform for enhanced success," he said. Learn more: www.ncausa.org Alix Box Named Second Cup ceo Mississauga, ON – Alix Box has been appointed president and ceo of Second Cup Inc., Canada's largest independent chain of coffee shops. Ms. Box, who will also serve on the board of directors, succeeds Stacey Mowbray, who left the company to pursue other opportunities. Box is a former Starbucks Coffee Co. executive responsible for managing 675 stores across Canada. Second Cup operates in every province and has more than 350 stores in Canada. Tailwind Capital purchased 500,000 shares or about 5% of Second Cup's shares after the announcement, paying $3.60 a share to Pheland Parties, the second largest investor in the chain at 28%. Learn more: www.secondcup.com William M. Murray, NCA Doi Chaang Coffee Co-Founder Khun Promyoung Khun Wicha Promyong (1956-2014) Doi Chaang Coffee founder Wicha Promyong, 58, died sud- denly Jan. 23 in his beloved Thailand. Promyong dedicated the later years of his life to helping his adopted people, the Akha coffee farmers of Thailand, establish a self-sustaining cooperative. The once impover- ished village that he befriended is prosperous today. Success came without government support or handouts through the hard work of local farmers whose reputation for excellence became known internationally. In 2006 Promyong recognized the local market for arabi- ca grown by the Akha was nearing saturation. He boldly ap- proached Canadian entrepreneur John Darch of Vancouver to create a unique "beyond fair trade" agreement to market Doi Chaang Coffee in North America through a Canadian affiliate which gifted 50% to the Akha cooperative. Darch agreed to develop the market entirely at his expense. The unconventional approach was featured in an award-winning documentary that helped launch the brand to earn $2 million in 2013. The company expressed "shock and sadness at this great loss are beyond words as we remember an individual who impacted the lives of so many and inspired all of us to make the world a better place." "We are all struggling to say goodbye to our dear friend, mentor and colleague," said Darch. "Khun Wicha epito- mized vision and compassion. For him, nothing was impos- sible if you were prepared to work hard and think outside the box. He saw the goodness in people and advocated pas- sionately for a just reward for the farmers and the equality of everyone regardless of age, race, gender or ability," said Darch. Learn more: www.doichaangcoffee.com Ron Mathison, group managing director, James Finlays Ltd. and Sigismondi advocate stability through purchasing guarantees for farmers. "Different factors affect different people throughout the value chain; it is important that we understand all these different interconnected issues," said Mathison. Copies of the free report are available online at: www. forumforthefuture.org