IRElAND. Connaughton & Sons, a family-run wholesale and supply business that serves the shipping and aviation sectors in Ireland, has named Tom Byrne as Managing Director, effective from 1 July.
Byrne is a well-known and respected figure in the travel-retail sector, with a 30-year-plus career that began when he joined ARI in 1993.
He worked in various retail and operational management roles for the group across five countries. In 2008, he took up the role of Muscat Duty Free General Manager for ARI Middle East, and was later named ARI Auckland General Manager, a post he held until May 2021.
He then moved to a new role outside ARI, as Executive Vice President at Saudi Airlines Catering Company in Saudi Arabia.
Byrne rejoined ARI in 2023 as Retail Director Ireland, where he played a key role in the rebranding of The Loop to Dublin Airport Duty Free and Cork Airport Duty Free at Dublin and Cork airports.
He also played a key leadership role in ARI’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) efforts, driving the development and delivery of the company’s DE&I strategy.
Byrne was also a Managing Board member of the European Travel Retail Confederation.
In his new role at L. Connaughton & Sons, Byrne will oversee the company’s operations, with a focus on accelerating growth across Ireland, the UK and Europe. He will lead the expansion of the company’s European base, scale its logistics infrastructure and drive strategic partnerships across the marine, aviation, diplomatic, retail and wider travel sectors, said the company in a statement.
In addition, Byrne will guide commercial development, enhance supply chain capabilities and champion a culture of innovation throughout the business, it added.
Byrne commented, “I am delighted to join L. Connaughton & Sons at a time of ambitious growth and transformation. We are making significant investments to scale operations and strengthen our European base. Our objective is to deliver a comprehensive, one-stop supply and retail solution that meets the evolving needs of the airport, airline, cruise, ferry and wider travel sectors across Ireland, the UK and Europe.”
Connaughton & Sons supplies ferries, cruiselines and merchant ships in Dublin Port and other ports in Ireland. In addition to its maritime services, the company caters to the aviation industry from its 45,000sq ft bonded warehouse in the IDA Industrial and Technology Park in Clonshaugh, Dublin. ✈
