INTERNATIONAL. The Moodie Report has revealed its annual People of the Year, recognising those who have made an outstanding contribution to the success and standing of the industry.
They are (pictured clockwise from top left): Ever Rich Duty Free Shop Corporation President Simon Chiang; China Duty Free Group President Lu Lu; Incheon International Airport Corporation Lee Chae-Wook; Malaysia Airports Senior General Manager – Commercial Services Faizah Khairuddin; Dufry CEO Julián Díaz; and The Nuance Group CEO Europe Andrea Belardini.
Of Lee Chae-Wook, we wrote: “Incheon International Airport Corporation made a huge statement about its commercial ambition, status and reputation among the world’s leading brands with the opening of the first ever Louis Vuitton store at an airport in September, in partnership with The Shilla Duty Free.
“This was one of the industry’s great power plays of recent years, engineered in large part by the influence of Incheon CEO Lee Chae-Wook, the driving force behind the airport’s push for regional and global leadership. Crucially, consumers too consistently recognise Incheon’s excellence: the location was named Best Airport Worldwide for the sixth time in a row in ACI’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards this year.”
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Of Julián Díaz we said: “August 2011 brought the latest extraordinary chapter in Dufry’s phenomenal rise under CEO Julián Díaz – a US$957 million acquisitions spree that has transformed the industry landscape in Latin America. The purchases included four separate airport retailers, chief among them Argentinean travel retail powerhouse InterBaires. In the past seven years, Dufry’s dramatic growth – through its leadership of industry consolidation and its doubling of market share and turnover – has been one of the defining stories of travel retail. And its appetite to expand and evolve further is far from sated yet.”
Turning to Lu Lu, The Moodie Report noted: “The driving force behind the remarkable revitalisation of China Duty Free Group (CDFG), the company’s President Lu Lu has presided over another year of expansion and high ambition. That push reached its latest peak with the introduction of new regulations that allow Chinese citizens to buy duty free items under certain conditions on the resort island of Hainan.
“CDFG, led by Lu Lu, has been in the vanguard of this drive, with its Sanya Duty Free Store the first to take advantage of the new rules on the island. The move was a red letter moment for Chinese duty free retailing and for the Mainland’s biggest travel retailer – and will ensure that CDFG’s growth trajectory is maintained well into the future.”
Next up was Andrea Belardini: “Adding newness, excitement and theatre to the mature and often difficult European airport retail market is no easy task – but The Nuance Group Europe has done so through a series of vibrant new openings in 2011.
“Led by CEO Andrea Belardini, the retailer unveiled some of the best new stores in the region this year, introducing the Duty Free Store concept initially at Antalya Airport in Turkey, followed by Arrivals and Departures outlets at Zürich Airport. With further developments planned in Sweden and Portugal, Nuance is meeting the challenges of the European market head-on.”
Of Faizah Khairuddin, we commented: “Malaysia Airports’ KLIA2 low-cost terminal development is one of Asia Pacific’s most eagerly awaited major openings of 2012 – and the airport company has set the scene superbly with its ambitious commercial planning for the new facility, led by Senior General Manager – Commercial Services Faizah Khairuddin.
“Ms Khairuddin has been a key influence in Malaysia Airports’ drive to raise the level of commercial activities at its airports, notably Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA). And she and her team have created a remarkable buzz around the industry, especially among many concessionaires, with their plans to create a “˜lifestyle destination’ in KLIA2.”
The Moodie Report commented on Simon Chiang: “The President of Ever Rich Duty Free Shop Corporation has long been a role model for the way he has championed charitable causes. This year, in Taiwan’s ultimate recognition of Corporate Social Responsibility, the company received the prestigious National Civic Service Award from the Premier of Taiwan Executive Yuan, Wu Den-yih. The award honours individuals and groups that make charitable contributions and promote humanitarian activities.
“Ever Rich was the only with profit institution to earn the accolade. The inspirational Simon Chiang’s words on receiving the award were humble and heartfelt – “Love is the most beautiful thing and practising charity is the most joyful.”
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