Archives
Philip Haine
Philip Haine is the Regional Sales Director Middle East, Near East & Africa for Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Travel Retail. Based in Dubai, Phil and his sales and marketing team manage JTI’s travel retail business across the Middle East, Near East, Africa & Turkey.
2023 marks Phil’s 18th year in tobacco and 15th in travel retail. Phil started “carrying the bag” in the UK’s domestic market before moving to travel retail covering the UK & Ireland. After his first chapter in travel retail, Phil widened his scope to the International Key Account team in Geneva, before moving to Singapore where he was responsible for various domestic and duty free markets in the sub-continent and Central Asia
Outside of work Phil is a proud father to Ben and does his best to play as much golf as possible in between business trips and acting as Ben’s personal chauffeur.
Sarah Branquinho
As President of the Duty Free World Council, Sarah Branquinho is an active advocate for the duty-free and travel retail industry and the key role it plays in enhancing transport infrastructure and the passenger experience.
Initially appointed the first Commercial Director of the industry’s trade association Tax Free World Association, the start of the duty-and tax-free industry’s campaign to fight the abolition of intra-EU duty- and tax-free sales saw her take up key advocacy roles. She served as Secretary General of the European Travel Research Foundation from 1995, managing and co-ordinating the ambitious research projects which underpinned the lobby and as secretary general of Focus 1999, coordinating the ‘Save Duty Free’ consumer mobilisation programme throughout the European Union.
Sarah subsequently joined BAA and its retail company World Duty Free, extending her remit for business relationships and external affairs to sister company Aldeasa following Autogrill’s acquisition of WDF. With the acquisition of World Duty Free Group by Dufry, she was appointed the group’s Director of External Affairs. From 2021 to 2023 Sarah served as Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Dufry, further driving the company’s commitment to ensuring its team is as diverse as its customer base and to building an inclusive and culturally sensitive workplace.
Today she continues to serve as External Affairs Advisor to Dufry.
Alongside her commercial roles, she has served as Chair of the UK Travel Retail Forum (2009 – 2018), President of the European Travel Retail Confederation (2012 – 2018), and still serves as the World Business Partner observer on the ACI Europe Board and Chair of Women in Travel Retail, which offers networking opportunities to women in the travel retail industry.
Aphrodite
Clive Jones
Clive Jones is the Chief Executive Officer of Tourvest Retail Services, a division of the Tourvest Group of Companies. Tourvest Retail Services provide food and beverage as well as duty free products, services and technology solutions within the travel retail sector.
Clive has various diplomas, including a degree in commerce, and a Master’s degree in business administration (MBA). Clive is also a Member of the Institute of Directors (United Kingdom) and is currently studying towards a Chartered Director qualification.
Born in South Africa, he emigrated with his family to the United Kingdom in December 2016 when Tourvest secured the inflight retail contract to provide its services to British Airways. The Tourvest business also runs operations in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.
In his previous role as Chief Operating Officer of Tourvest Travel Services, he travelled extensively throughout the African continent, given the business was the master franchise rights holder for the American Express Business Travel brand on the continent. The Tourvest Group footprint on the African continent remains extensive.
Clive has been married for 24 years and has two children (Morgan, 21 and Dylan, 19), both of whom are currently attending university.
Clive is a member of his local squash club, as well as being an avid golfer and runner, having previously completed two Comrades Ultra-Marathons (88km).
Ramesh Cidambi
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.
Dubai Duty Free-PLA
Gebr Heinemann
Dermot DAVITT
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.
Keith Hunter
Keith Hunter is the Chief Retail Officer for Urban-Air Port Ltd (UAP), a cutting-edge company providing innovative ground infrastructure as a service for Future Air Mobility, and is creating a fresh and ambitious retail and advertising division delivering experiential retail for each UAP, sponsorship opportunities and a comprehensive online collaboration of brand and service partners for the UAP App.
Keith also co-founded Hunter Palmer – Global Retail Solutions, a specialist travel retail and food & beverage consultancy, working collaboratively with airports, airlines, operators and brands.
Previously, as Senior Vice President of Qatar Duty Free for Qatar Airways, Keith spearheaded the Hamad International Airport retail, food & beverage and advertising offer, from inception through to the opening and operation and also served as a board member of the Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA) for 5 years.
