Dubai Duty Free reshuffles its management to boost growth

Tuesday, Jul 19, 2011

Gulf News

Dubai: Setting the pace for future expansion, Dubai Duty Free has reshuffled its management structure with Managing Director Colm McLoughlin assuming a new role as DDFs Executive Vice-Chairman with immediate effect, taking on overall responsibility for the airport retail operation and its subsidiary businesses.

Former deputy managing director George Horan has been appointed President with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the operation.

Salah Tahlak, previously director of corporate communications, has been appointed senior vice-president of the communications division while Ramesh Cidambi, former director for IT and Logistics, now becomes senior vice-president for IT and Logistics.

Natural progression

Confirming the development, McLoughlin told Gulf News in a statement: The reason behind the new designations is to ensure that the management structure is in place for the growth plans for Dubai Duty Free. He called it a necessary step in realigning the companys business.

The move by the airport retail giant the worlds largest single airport retail operator seems a natural progression in line with a massive $7.8 billion airport expansion earmarked for Dubai International over the next decade.

In the short term we will see our retail space grow by almost 50 per cent with the opening of Concourse Three at Dubai International next year. It is important that our management structure reflects these growth plans, said McLoughlin.

Dubai Airports said recently it will commission the construction of additional terminal space and concourse areas at Dubais airport comprising an extra 675,000 square metres of floor space twice the footprint of London Heathrow Terminal 5, including expansion of Terminal 2 and the construction of an additional Concourse 4 [to be completed by 2015.

In additional changes, McLoughlin has strengthened the existing Executive Management Committee, DDF said, with the current committee having been joined by five other DDF managers.

In other changes, Bernard Creed has been appointed vice-president of finance; Sean Staunton becomes vice-president of operations; Saba Tahir is vice-president of purchasing; Nic Bruwer, vice-president of human resources; and Sinead El Sibai is vice-president of marketing.

The airport retailer added in a statement that McLoughlin will continue to have overall responsibility for DDF and subsidiary businesses, including the Aviation Club Leisure Complex which includes the Aviation Club, The Irish Village, The Century Village and the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Targeting $1.4 billion in annual sales for 2011, DDF achieved robust sales of $698 million in the first half of the year.