March, 2023

Tom Franks joins as ETP Chair 

Tea trailblazer appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors to help catalyse the organisation’s Strategy 2030
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ETP’s vision of a thriving tea sector that is socially just and environmentally sustainable is ambitious, and the organisation wants to tackle deep-rooted, complex issues and create lasting change for the global tea sector. Tom’s 20 plus years’ experience, providing strategic and operational leadership for multi-national organisations, will provide insight and guidance to ETP as it implements its Strategy2030.

From 2015 to 2022, Tom was Group CEO of Camellia Plc, the world’s largest private tea producer. During his time at Camellia, Tom led the organisation in its adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, a transformational step for the sector. He acted as a co-Chair of the Global Tea Coalition, a producer-packer CEO forum where leaders from the sector discuss living wages and incomes, equality, and environmental sustainability.

“The tea sector faces incredible challenges today and difficult times ahead,” said Franks.

“I believe that the Ethical Tea Partnership and its members can catalyse long-term, systemic change, to benefit everybody who works in tea. I can’t wait to get started and to work with my fellow Directors and ETP staff to address the sector’s key issues within economics, equality, and the environment.”

Following an open recruitment process independently managed and screened by a sub-committee of the Board of Directors, Keith Writer, ETP’s Interim Chair and Supply Director at Taylors of Harrogate, welcomed Tom into his new role.

“Tom brings leadership and passion to the role,” said Writer. “I am delighted to welcome Tom to the Board.

Keith Writer, Taylors of Harrogate

New and familiar issues amplified by the price of tea, the rising role of legislation, the changing nature of certification, and economic turbulence across the world affect the role of ETP, but also provide an incredible opportunity for the organisation to lead the sector’s response. Tom is the right person to work alongside the executive at the right time.

Keith Writer Supply Director, Taylors of Harrogate

Tom will work with the Board of Directors and the ETP Executive towards ETP’s vision for ‘a thriving tea industry that is socially just and environmentally sustainable.’

“I am excited to welcome Tom to the ETP team,” said Jenny Costelloe, Executive Director of ETP.

“With Tom’s leadership and guidance, ETP’s secretariat will be strengthened and professionalised to catalyse change and improvements in the sector. His recent experience with the world’s largest tea producer and with the UN Guiding Principles will be invaluable for ETP.”

Tom’s experience driving organisational change and delivering financial best practice will also benefit ETP. From 1988-2014, Tom worked for KPMG in London with roles which included Chief Operating Officer for the Transactions and Restructuring Practice, Head of the Global Corporate Finance Practice, and Chairman of the Capital Advisory Group.

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