Ramesh Cidambi is the Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Duty Free (DDF) and is responsible for all aspects of the company’s operations, reporting to the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO.
His responsibilities include both the retail and leisure businesses operated by DDF.
Prior to his promotion to his current role, Ramesh held a variety of senior positions in the company with responsibility for areas such as information technology, logistics, retail development in both of Dubai’s airports covering over 40,000sq m of retail space, and the DDF Leisure business through the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and The Irish Village Bar and Restaurant (in two locations).
Ramesh has been with DDF for over thirty years, during which time the company has grown to become one of the world’s largest airport retailers in a single location with sales of over US$2 billion in 2019.
He also maintains his links with the domestic retail market through the chairmanship of the Merchants Advisory Board and as a Board Member of Dubai’s Retail Business Group. He holds an MBA degree from Utah State University and a B.S. degree from Loyola College (Chennai, India).
Ramesh’s main interests outside work are sailing (with his wife Alpana) and the practice of Iyengar yoga.
PRESENTATION
Haitham Al Majali is the CEO of Jordanian Duty Free Shops – a Jordanian public shareholders company which was founded in 1997 and operates sixteen duty free, land border and seaport outlets.
Haitham is one of the founders of JDF, and is also a Board Member and shareholder. He was elected President of the Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA) in 2017.
In addition to his roles with JDF and MEADFA, Haitham is a Chairman and/or Board Member of several companies in Jordan.
Haitham earned his engineering degree from Cardiff University in South Wales, UK.
Andrew Day is Group CEO of Emirates Leisure Retail LLC and MMI LLC, with businesses spanning hospitality, food and beverages across the Gulf, Indian Ocean, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Andrew is a board director of MMI Holdings, Emirates Leisure Retail Holdings and was also appointed to the Board of Premier Inn Hotels LLC, plus a variety of subsidiary/joint venture boards including Sirocco, the regional distributor for Heineken and other premium global beverages. He is also chairman of Emirates Leisure Retail Australia.
Andrew joined the group in 2007 as CEO of MMI, based in Dubai. With operations across the UAE, Oman, South East Asia, Southern Europe, Africa and the Indian Ocean, the business has continued to grow both its import/wholesale operations as well as expanding its retail business including Le Clos, the award-winning fine wine and luxury spirits boutique in Dubai International Airport.
Andrew assumed responsibility for Emirates Leisure Retail in 2010 and has been instrumental in its growth, including the expansion of Emirates Leisure Retail Australia plus new operations in Singapore and most recently New Zealand.
Prior to this appointment, Andrew held a number of senior positions during his 16 years with Anheuser-Busch (one of the United States Fortune 500 corporations). An officer of Anheuser-Busch International, as Vice President of International Operations he was responsible for the operations of the world’s largest brewer across Canada, Ireland, UK, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, covering own-company operations, license agreements and joint venture agreements. In his time at A-B, Andrew was a board director of both the European operations and Asia Pacific operations.
Dermot Davitt is one of the most experienced editors and commentators working in the travel retail media.
He joined The Moodie Report in April 2006 as Deputy Publisher, becoming President (and Co-owner) of The Moodie Davitt Report from August 2015. The company is today part of UK-based publishing and events business Mark Allen Group.
Davitt plays a key management role across the company’s operations, from its flourishing Print Division to the industry’s leading business intelligence website, www.MoodieDavittReport.com, The Moodie Davitt e-Zine and other titles.
Based in Galway, Ireland, Dermot is also a highly experienced conference moderator. He has chaired and moderated many of the travel retail industry’s leading events over the years, including The Trinity Forum, the Airport Food & Beverage Conference & Awards, the MEADFA Conference, the TFWA Asia Pacific Conference, the Nordic Travel Retail Seminar and many others.
