IRELAND. Leading travel retailer Aer Rianta International (ARI) has named highly respected industry executive Tom Byrne as Director of Retail, Ireland. Byrne returns to Ireland from Saudi Arabia where he was Executive Vice President at Saudi Airlines Catering Company. He will assume his new role in July, when he also joins the ARI Executive Team.
Byrne has over 30 years’ travel retail experience, beginning when he joined ARI in 1993. He has worked in various retail and operational management roles 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, before moving to Saudi Arabia.
ARI said: “Throughout his time at ARI, Byrne married a sharp commercial focus with customer-led values, focusing on creating an exceptional customer experience and delivering business value.”
ARI CEO Ray Hernan said: “On behalf of the entire executive team, the team at daa, and myself, we are delighted to welcome Tom back to our business. With his in in-depth knowledge of the business, commercial acumen, and a results focus, Tom will undoubtedly further strengthen our collective efforts as we continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences in Ireland. I would like to thank Martin Carpenter for providing additional support to the ARI Ireland team during the period which the role of Retail Director has been vacant.”
Tom Byrne said: “I am thrilled to be back at ARI to take on this prestigious role and look forward to immersing myself with the ARI Ireland and daa teams. As we enter a busy summer season, I am excited about the opportunities to continually enhance the customer experience and unrivalled offering for passengers in Dublin and Cork airports.” ✈
