Ramesh Cidambi (second from right) takes on the new role of Chief Operating Office to replace the departing President George Horan. Nic Bruwer (second left) and Salah Tahlak (centre) become Executive Vice Presidents. |
UAE. Dubai Duty Free is promoting Senior Vice President Logistics and IT Ramesh Cidambi to Chief Operating Officer to replace President George Horan who is retiring after 33 years’ outstanding service.
Cidambi has played a vital long-term role in heading up key back-room functions for the retailer. He will report to Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin.
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| He is a man for all seasons, not just a fair weather character but someone who will be around and reliable when things get stormy. He just gets things done. |
In related news, McLoughlin has named Salah Tahlak (currently Senior Vice President – Corporate Communications) and Nic Bruwer (Vice President, Human Resources) to the new roles of Executive Vice Presidents under Cidambi. Their duties, which will be subject to a further announcement, will cover all aspects of the retailer’s operations, including Dubai Duty Free Leisure.
All the changes are effective from 1 June when further management restructuring will also be announced. We’ll bring you more details on this story and further background on Cidambi, Tahlak and Bruwer soon.
NOTE: Look out for a full tribute to George Horan soon on The Moodie Davitt Report. Last December we named the much-respected and popular Irish retailer as one of our People of the Year. The words we wrote bear repeating here:
George Horan came out to Dubai as one of the original Aer Rianta consulting team charged with setting up Dubai Duty Free in 1983 and has been there ever since.
Now President of the near US$2 billion business, this unassuming, quietly effective executive continues to play a pivotal role in the success of a prolonged industry phenomenon. This year he project managed the creation of a new 7,000sq m Dubai Duty Free operation at Dubai International Concourse D, arguably the retailer’s most ambitious projects to date. That work will come to fruition in February 2016, another lasting testament to this outstanding executive’s influence. Just as importantly, it will mark his 50th year in the airport sector, an amazing achievement.
