MIDDLE EAST. Gerry Crawford, general manager of Phoenicia Aer Rianta Company (Beirut Duty Free), is leaving to take up a senior role in a new regional post at group headquarters in Bahrain.
Crawford, who has helped drive the success of the acclaimed new Beirut Duty Free operation, will be replaced by Denis Hourigan, currently financial controller at Bahrain Duty Free. Aer Rianta International-Middle East managing director John Sutcliffe paid tribute to Crawford and said he was pleased to have him joining the regional operation. An announcement will be made shortly regarding the exact role. Tom Byrne, who was on secondment at Kuwait Duty Free, becomes retail manager for Beirut Duty Free.
Sutcliffe described Hourigan as a “very experienced executive” who would bring much to the role in Beirut.
“Denis has got tremendous experience with the group, ranging from the Channel Tunnel (a former ARI operation in the UK) to Bahrain and other regional projects in the Middle East,” he told The Moodie Report.
In other developments, former Bahrain Duty Free head of retail and marketing Martin Mullen has joined Kuwait Duty Free as retail operations manager.
Managing director of Habchi & Chalhoub Anthony Chalhoub told The Moodie Report: “We are extremely happy to have Martin Mullen on board. We would also like to express our ‘big thanks’ to Tom Byrne who has done such an outstanding job in Kuwait.”