Today, Responsibility.org announced Robert Hall, CEO of Ole Smoky Distillery, LLC, will serve as Chair of its Board of Directors. Along with Hall, Tara Engel, Vice President, Public and National Affairs, Pernod Ricard, will serve as Vice Chair. They assumed their positions beginning January 1, 2024, and each will serve for two years, the company states.
What Hall Brings to the Table
Robert Hall has over four decades of professional expertise in the food and beverage industry, consistently delivering results for the organizations for which he serves. With the help of Hall, Ole Smoky Distillery was just named Distillery of the Year 2023 by the PR%F Awards. In addition to his work with Responsibility.org, Hall has also served on the board of The Boys and Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains, according to the company.
“I am proud of my appointment and excited for the future of Responsibility.org,” Hall said in a news release. “I am committed to working together with industry leaders and advocates on our collective missions, and I am confident that Responsibility.org will continue to make a positive impact on advancing alcohol responsibility in 2024 and beyond.”
What Engel Brings to the Table
Tara Engel, incoming Vice Chair, is a dynamic and dedicated leader with over 30 years of experience in public affairs, and almost 20 years at Pernod Ricard in leadership positions, the company states. With a background rooted in public advocacy, Engel played a pivotal role in leveraging the distilled spirits industry during the COVID-19 pandemic by transitioning distilleries to the production of hand sanitizer and has helped lead Pernod Ricard’s engagement with Responsibility.org.
“Pernod Ricard is proud of the work that we do every day to embrace responsibility, and I am eager to take on this new challenge and help to advance the mission of Responsibility.org,” Engel said in the release. “This is not just a job—the work we do saves lives. Responsibility.org has taken the role of industry seriously, and will continue to effectively engage leaders across the board to have a real impact on safety.”
Hall and Engel, along with the rest of the Board of Directors, will continue to receive guidance from Responsibility.org’s independent National Advisory Board, according to the company. The board is comprised of medical and educational professionals, a former state Attorney General and other experts in mission-related fields.
“The future of Responsibility.org is bright. The outstanding leadership of Marc Bromfeld left its mark, and now I’m excited to see the organization’s Board in the hands of Robert and Tara,” Chris Swonger, Presidents and CEO of Responsibility.org and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, said in the release. “I’m confident that we are primed for the further success of the organization as we move into this next phase.”
