Consumers International announces new President

03 May 2019

Consumers International has today announced Dr Marimuthu Nadason as its new President. Dr Marimuthu Nadason is also President of the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Association (FOMCA). Gilly Wong Chief Executive of Consumer Council in Hong Kong, also joins him as Vice President of Consumers International.  

Elections were held at the Consumers International General Assembly, which took place at the Consumers International World Congress in Portugal last week. A new President, Board and Advisory Council were elected. Elections take place once every four years and Dr Marimuthu Nadason replaces outgoing Consumers International President, Bart Combee.  

Bart Combee and the outgoing Council received a standing ovation for their work of the last four years.

President, Dr Marimuthu Nadason

“It is a great honour to be elected as President of Consumers International. In this current era of digital economy, I look forward to working with members and partners to support consumers all over the world.

We must be even more relevant and impactful than today by working with relevant stakeholders through advocacy, campaigning and action addressing how technology impacts consumers in terms of benefits and detriment.

So, I ask you to join me in our efforts to optimise our resources and working collectively as well as collaboratively towards achieving consumer benefit.”  

Outgoing President, Bart Combee

"In my final days as President I was so inspired at the Consumers International Summit 2019 by the energy, courage and commitment of Consumers International’s members to the kind of international advocacy, partnership working and collective action for consumers that are essential in today’s rapidly changing, increasingly globalised, digitalised, multinational marketplace. I have no doubt that the ‘new Consumers International’ we saw at the Summit will deliver more powerful impact for global consumers in the years ahead. I could not be more proud."

Helena Leurent, Director General of Consumers International

“I’m delighted to welcome Dr Marimuthu Nadason as President and our incoming Board and Council to their new positions. I look forward to working with the new team to ensure that Consumers International and the global consumer movement continue to drive positive change for consumers around the globe. I would like to express my thanks to our outgoing Council and President for their support and guidance to the organisation over the past four years.”

The theme for World Congress 2019, which preceded the General Assembly was ‘Consumers at the Heart of Digital Innovation”. Over 400 consumer advocates, government and business leaders from 87 countries and representing millions of consumers explored how technology is changing the world for consumers and how we can come together for positive change in IoT, AI, access to the internet, privacy and security for a safer, fairer, more sustainable world.