IRELAND. It is with immense sadness that we report the passing of long-time Aer Rianta International senior executive and former Bahrain Duty Free General Manager Maurice Burke after a long illness.
His funeral takes place on Wednesday 23 October at 12 noon; further details can be found here.
The Limerick man made a tremendous contribution to the growth of ARI’s overseas operations, and especially those in the Middle East, during an illustrious career.
He joined Shannon Airport’s Sales & Catering Organisation in 1969.
Later he was part of Aer Rianta’s pioneering taskforce that flew to Dubai in 1983 to consult on the opening of Dubai Duty Free, which grew into one of the world’s greatest travel retail operations over the ensuing four decades.
As he recalled with his trademark humour in an interview for ‘The World Rovers’, published by The Moodie Report in 2007, “I was seated next to [fellow Dubai Duty Free pioneer and later long-time Aer Rianta International Middle East boss] John Sutcliffe on the plane. I remember the culture shock of arriving there and the chaos in that initial phase. Things quietened down after the opening: they went from 120 miles per hour to 119 miles per hour.”
By the time he returned to Ireland after that secondment, Maurice had the urge to travel. The opportunity came when he took on a purchasing role at Shannon Airport – initially for confectionery and fashion. He managed those categories for ARI-run Moscow Duty Free in 1988 as that business was getting off the ground,
Maurice arrived in Bahrain with Aer Rianta International Middle East (ARIME) in August 1991, where he found a great commonality of spirit. “The cultures are very similar,” he said. “The Bahrainis like to do business, they want to make money, but they don’t want to do it quickly or on the cheap. They believe in the longer term, in investing and in making friends while they do it.”
He was promoted to Bahrain Duty Free General Manager, a role he held until January 2008 as one of ARI-ME’s longest-serving and most popular executives, later working for the group on a project management basis. His long stint with the company included six months at ARI Pakistan in Karachi.
Maurice Burke will be fondly remembered as an outstanding servant of the duty-free industry, from his early days at Shannon Airport to supporting the opening of Dubai Duty Free through to aiding the set-up and highly successful expansion of ARI in the Gulf in the 1990s and beyond.
As Bahrain Duty Free General Manager, his professionalism and expertise as a retailer helped establish the business as a world-class, award-winning operation. He also enjoyed huge respect among ARIME business partners across the region.
Maurice made many friends across the sector down the years with his generosity and dry Limerick wit. As a mentor he helped advance the careers of many of his colleagues in ARI and the wider Irish community.
The Moodie Davitt Report joins his colleagues and friends in mourning his passing and in passing our condolences to his wife Jenny and children Patrick and Shannon.
TRIBUTES
John Sutcliffe: I have so many great memories of Maurice or Mossie as most called him. We first met in Cork Airport in 1978. We were both applying for a job at Cork Airport which fortunately we did not get as had one of us remained in Cork the likelihood is that we might never have seen each other again.
Instead I stayed at Dublin Airport and Maurice stayed in Shannon. Five years later we were both selected on the 12-man Aer Rianta team to go to Dubai to help establish the now famous Dubai Duty Free. Another seven years later we both ended up in Bahrain working for Bahrain Duty Free/ARIME and it was there that our friendship flourished.
Maurice met Jenny and they married and had two lovely kids, Patrick and Shannon. We used to joke with Maurice that he called his daughter Shannon to suck up to the big boys in Shannon Airport, as the ARI head office was based there at the time. As always Maurice took it well.
It’s so sad to see Maurice taken from his family so early. He has had a long struggle with his health, good days and bad, but he hardly deserved to go at such a young age.
Maurice was such a great character. His unique sense of humour was legendary, and he was always upbeat and positive. He was a very loyal employee and a true friend. He will be sadly missed for sure, and as I write these few words while waiting for a flight at a small airport in the north of the Philippines, I truly feel sad.
I think of Jenny, Patrick and Shannon. It’s such a difficult time for them. Anna Marie and I extend our sincere condolences. May his soul rest in peace.
Colm and Breeda McLoughlin: We are truly sorry to hear about Maurice’s death. He was such a gentle soul, full of love, kindness and always willing to help out anyone he saw struggling in any situation. We have great memories of Maurice at social or work events; he had an amazing way with people, extremely funny as well. It’s heartbreaking for Jenny and their two children Shannon and Patrick, who Maurice adored. May your gentle soul rest in peace.
Nuno Amaral (ARI Chief Business Development & Operations Officer): I have such fond memories of working with Maurice. He was a true gentleman and left a very strong impression on all our colleagues and partners from Bahrain to Muscat, from Lebanon to Delhi.
Mossie’s dry wit was not always immediately understood by many, but once you got to know him better, he became your friend for life. He was a true pioneer and will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
Tom Byrne (Director ARI Ireland): Mossie was a true ambassador for ARI. He had a positive impact on the many locations he worked in as a senior executive for the company. He was a pioneer, many times part of the vanguard setting up in new, far-off destinations, each time bringing his professionalism, eye for detail and famous dry wit.
Mossie was a true character of our industry, well known and much loved.
We have lost a man that had a huge positive impact on all that had the pleasure to work with him. He guided and supported the growth of many young managers over the years, and what an enduring legacy that is.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, Jenny, Shannon and Patrick at this sad time.
Mossie, rest in peace, you had a heart of gold and will be terribly missed.
Martin Moodie: Like many in the travel retail community, I am distraught at the news of Maurice’s passing.
As a cancer survivor, ‘Mossie’ was one of my most inspirational supporters during my own battle with the disease in 2010-11. “Take your medicine,” he said of the chemotherapy regime I was facing. “It’s s*** but just stick with it.”
With a combination of deadpan humour and constant encouragement Mossie helped me pull through just as he helped so many people through his life. As a mentor, colleague, friend and family man.
“Having a big battle with the bastard again, started three months ago and now half-way through the chemo,” he wrote to me last September. The ‘bastard’ was his personification of this damned disease. A foe to be faced down as he had done so repeatedly. Sadly this time he lost his battle. Rest well, free from suffering, dear Mossie.
* Readers can add their tributes on The Moodie Davitt Report’s LinkedIn page, where there has been an outpouring of heartfelt messages. We will pass these to Maurice’s family.
