Ashley Powell, Managing Director at Moët Hennessy, is proud to stand behind the Respect in Drinks Charter – an industry-wide commitment to fostering a respectful, inclusive and safe workplace culture across the drinks sector.
For Ashley, the Charter is not just a statement of intent but a critical step in shaping the future of the industry.
“We have a collective responsibility to elevate the standards of our industry to ensure it is sustainable and an attractive industry for talent,” he says.
Created by the Drinks Association Embrace Difference Council, the Respect in Drinks Charter invites signatories to take meaningful action in promoting inclusivity, challenging harmful behaviours and supporting respectful workplace practices. Backed by leading organisations across the sector, the Charter reflects a shared belief that respect should be the norm – not the exception.
Ashley says this belief is already embedded into the workplace culture at Moët Hennessy. “Respect is embedded in our company values,” he shares. “ Our team knows they can expect to be respected when they come to work each day. Ultimately, we know that this helps to drive good business performance.”
As a leader, Ashley sees his role as one of active advocacy, listening and responsiveness. “Employee engagement is a cornerstone of respect,” he explains. “As leaders, we should always listen to our team and, importantly, act on what we hear.”
He hopes the Charter will drive real change by creating alignment and shared momentum across the industry.
“I’m hopeful that the Charter will create a sense of shared belief about what respect looks like for the liquor industry,” he says. “This will lead to focused actions and a positive impact on both the industry and the people that work in and around it.”
At a time when attracting and retaining talent is more important than ever, Ashley sees respect as a key driver of both sustainability and success in the drinks industry. The Respect in Drinks Charter is a powerful step forward – and one that Moët Hennessy is proud to support.
The Drinks Association supports and encourages compliance by its members with the ‘Respect in Drinks Charter’ but makes no representations, expressly or by inference, in relation to the conduct of our members or their compliance with the Charter. The only representation made by the Association is that our member has signed the Charter. Any complaint or claim arising from any alleged breach of the Charter must be made directly to the member organisation.