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Rita Chidiac

Rita Chidiac joined Japan Tobacco International (JTI) in Lebanon in 2011, taking on responsibility for its corporate affairs and communications activities in the Middle East and Levant region. In 2016 she joined JTI’s Worldwide Duty Free team based in Geneva. A year later she relocated to Dubai, where she manages JTI’s corporate affairs and communications activities covering Africa, CIS and the Middle East region.

Prior to joining JTI, Rita worked as Political Analyst for the United Nations Development Program and for the Minister of State for Administrative Reform in Beirut.

In April 2019, Rita was elected to the Board of the Middle East and Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA).

Rita studied international affairs and diplomacy and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Notre Dame University in Lebanon.

Ray Hernan

Ray Hernan joined Aer Rianta International (ARI) as CEO in August 2018. Prior to joining ARI, Ray held various senior executive roles in public and private companies, mainly in the aviation and retail sectors.

Ray worked as Director of Finance for Ryanair for 10 years during a period of exponential growth for the airline. In 2006 Ray joined the Irish luxury department store chain Brown Thomas and subsequently worked in London for its parent company Selfridges. He returned to Dublin to take up the role of CEO of Arnotts, Ireland’s largest department store, where he successful repositioned the business as a modern and customer-focused business.

Ray is a qualified chartered accountant with a proven track record in applying a dynamic style of leadership coupled with strong commercial acumen.

Isabel Zarza

Isabel Zarza is Chief Operating Officer for North & Central Europe, Russia and Africa. With a far-reaching and diverse portfolio, Isabel oversees Dufry operations in the Eurasian region (Finland, France, Kazakhstan, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland) and the African continent (Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, and Nigeria).

Previously, Isabel was Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer at World Duty Free Group until the company was acquired by Dufry in 2015.

Frédéric Chevalier

A graduate of l’Ecole Nationale des Ponts & Chaussées and Paristech, Frédéric Chevalier joined Lagardère Travel Retail in 2008 as EVP in charge of Strategy, Innovation and Sustainable Development. Prior to that he had worked in private equity and management consulting.

In 2014, Frédéric was promoted to Chief Business Officer and became Chief Operating Officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa in 2017.

Ali Tounsi

Ali Tounsi is an engineer and holder of a Diploma of Master Engineer in telemechanics from the Tunisian Aeronautical Academy and a Master in airports management from the National School of Civil Aviation (ENAC-Toulouse).  He began his career in civil aviation in 1992, as an engineer in the Office of the Civil Aviation and Airports (OACA-Tunisia), in charge of projects related to the quality of services, airport resources management, and future infrastructure projects.

During his professional career, Ali has been designated director of several international airports in Tunisia, responsible for the extension of several passenger terminals. He also served as chairman of the steering committee for the implementation of the certification program of Tunisian airports.

Since 2009, Ali is Secretary General of ACI Africa, and member of the ACI World Technique and Safety Standing Committee representing the Africa region.

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