Former police boss on Foster's board
The Age
Friday April 2, 2010
GLOBAL beverages company Foster's Group has appointed former Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon to the board as a non-executive director.Ms Nixon led the Victorian police force for eight years before retiring in February 2009, battling during that time such issues as drunken violence and teenage binge drinking."This is a great opportunity for me and I look forward to drawing on my management experience and understanding of community issues, including those around alcohol, to make a meaningful contribution as a director of Foster's," Ms Nixon said yesterday.While chief commissioner, Ms Nixon threw her support behind the federal government's 2008 tax increase on alcopops, or pre-mixed drinks.She said the tax revenue generated should be used to educate young people about the damaging effects of alcohol."I think we might talk some more about the damage that alcohol does to our systems . . . about the long-term effects on the behaviours of young people that get arrested," she told the ABC at the time.Foster's Group markets SKYY Vodka, Lemon, Lime & Bitters, and SKYY BLUE Blood Orange, Grapefruit & Soda, according to the company website.Ms Nixon also told the ABC in 2008 said drinks manufacturers have a responsibility to buyers."I am kind of wondering where the manufacturers are in this. Why aren't they beating a path to my door to want to talk about how they might help us in terms of deterring this excess drinking in young people."Foster's, though, is looking to tap Ms Nixon's broad links in society."Christine's leadership, management experience and her strong community focus will be an asset at the Foster's board table," Foster's chairman David Crawford said in a statement.Premier John Brumby welcomed the appointment, saying it was great to see more women on boards."One of the problems we have got with public sector boards is there's hardly any women on any boards of the major companies across Australia," he said."Frankly, Australia is well behind the rest of the world."The Premier said that Ms Nixon had strong views on alcohol when she was chief commissioner and that she will express those opinions to the board of Foster's.Shares in Foster's ended up 1 to $5.30.
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