The Moodie Davitt Report, the market-leading travel retail and airport commercial revenues B2B title and events company, today reveals a new leadership structure to drive the company’s sustained success story long into the future.
Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, who created the company (then The Moodie Report) in 2002, will step away from his related CEO responsibilities for family and personal reasons, effective 1 October.
He will, however, continue in a full-time capacity with the company – owned by Mark Allen Group since 30 September 2024 – in a wide-ranging editorial and ambassadorial Chairman’s role, leading the title’s flourishing Asia operations, premium film division Moodie Davitt STUDIO and selected new projects.
His long-term colleague (and business partner since 2015) Dermot Davitt becomes CEO in addition to his existing role as company President.
Dermot will be supported by Publisher Irene Revilla, who takes on the additional responsibilities of Managing Director, and Matt Willey, a key figure since 2007 in the company’s success story, most recently as Development and Systems Operations Director. Matt now becomes Chief Technology and Creative Officer. Both will report to Dermot.
Moodie commented, “As we prepare to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2027, I feel it is an appropriate time to transition our management structure so that this remarkable journey is best placed to run and run over coming years.
“The past year has been a difficult one personally, particularly with the passing of my beloved daughter – and our Chief Operating Officer – Sinead Moodie in February. Such events inevitably lead to deep self-reflection and I have concluded that now is the moment to pass over many of my day-to-day responsibilities while continuing to serve the company in the areas I most enjoy and where I can contribute most.
“I am so proud of what we have created over the past 24 years, from that first six-page pdf on 16 September 2002 to the expansive multi-media portfolio we offer today. And to see once-fledgling concepts such as The Trinity Forum and FAB flourish into blockbuster global events has been deeply satisfying.
“That success is, of course, largely down to the calibre of the people we have attracted down the years, a dynamic reflected in this strong, new-look management team led by a supremely capable manager in Dermot.
“He, Irene and Matt have been vital influences in The Moodie Davitt Report’s development over the years. Their complementary skills, backed by the support and strength of Mark Allen Group, have us well set to build on our legacy and continue our innovation agenda which has been such a hallmark over the past 24 years.”
Dermot Davitt said, “I am honoured and delighted to step into this role and to continue my 20-year journey at The Moodie Davitt Report.
“My aim is to maintain and build on the unrivalled reach, relationships and reputation that we have established under Martin’s leadership. I am thrilled he is continuing in this senior role and that I have his strong support as we take this next step as an organisation.
“I also thank the Mark Allen Group leadership team, notably Mark and Ben Allen, for placing their trust in me.
“Equally, the new senior positions for Irene and Matt underscore their immense importance to our future and I am delighted to have them alongside Martin and me to guide our company through its next stage.
“Together we aim to take The Moodie Davitt Report, already the runaway market leader, to new heights with our ideas and innovation agenda.”
Martin Moodie will continue to lead Moodie Davitt STUDIO, the company’s premier film division, which has produced a series of acclaimed productions, including The TREX Factor (above), Airport Wonders of the World, set at Hamad International Airport, and the official EVERICH Duty Free 30th anniversary film (both below)
Irene Revilla said, “I am very excited to be taking on the role of Managing Director at The Moodie Davitt Report, a business that Martin built with incredible vision, passion and determination.
“I am looking forward to this new chapter, building on the legacy that he created and continuing to drive and strengthen The Moodie Davitt Report’s market leadership, editorial excellence and commercial success.”
Matt Willey added, “I joined The Moodie Davitt Report in March 2007, which means I have spent almost 20 years watching the company change shape while never once deviating from what it stands for and the quality it delivers.
“Platforms have come and gone; formats have multiplied; the audience, reach and reputation has grown beyond anything I imagined when I started; and through all of it the content has remained the reason people come to us. That has also always been the thing I have measured my own work against.
“Combining technology and creative in one role reflects where publishing is headed. Design and engineering are now part of how our reporting reaches its readers rather than a layer applied afterwards. Treating them as an integrated discipline lets us be far more ambitious about what we build.
“Martin remaining as Founder & Chairman means the editorial judgement that built this title over 24 years remains in place and with Mark Allen Group’s support behind us, the next chapter promises to be every bit as compelling as what went before.” ✈
