USA. Duty Free Holdings (DFH) has today announced the appointment of James Mullaney as its new President. He will lead the company’s strategic growth initiatives with a focus on expanding DFH’s presence in the USA and across international markets.
Mullaney’s career spans nearly three decades in the fashion and retail industries. His most recent position was as President and Chief Financial Officer of New York fashion business L&M Direct (2015-2024).
Prior to that, from 2013-15 he served as CEO for luxury fashion brand Furla USA, overseeing operations across North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean.
Under his leadership, DFH noted Furla experienced significant sales and profitability growth, and launched new stores, including a flagship location on Fifth Avenue as well as a showroom on Park Avenue South in New York City. Mullaney also oversaw the brand’s expansion into Central and South America.
Mullaney’s distinguished career also includes roles as Chief Operating Officer at Schifter + Partners, Managing Director for Bruno Magli and Director of Finance for Henri Bendel, a division of Limited Brands.
He began his career in finance at L’Oreal USA and later held leadership positions at Liz Claiborne, managing a US$400 million apparel division.
DFH said Mullaney will focus on accelerating the company’s global expansion efforts, with an emphasis on building the footprint of its executive retail shops, which have a growing presence in US-based private jet terminals, and La Boutique stores across the country.
As reported, La Boutique, in which DFH is a joint venture partner, recently opened the first duty-free store in California’s John Wayne Airport.
Mullaney is also tasked with developing new distribution channels for DFH in Central, South and North America, and the Caribbean.
He will also oversee the development of new retail and wholesale channels, enhance operational efficiencies and drive strategic partnerships, the company said.
Duty Free Holdings CEO and Owner Philippe Dray said: “James’ extensive experience in the luxury and international retail sectors, coupled with his proven leadership in driving business growth, makes him the ideal leader to take Duty Free Holdings into its next phase.
“His vision and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to expand our presence, bring an elevated duty-free shopping experience to consumers, and solidify our position as a leader in the global duty-free market.”
Mullaney commented: “I am honoured to take on the role of President at Duty Free Holdings and excited to lead the company during this pivotal time. Building upon the brand’s strong foundation, I look forward to working with the talented team to execute an aggressive expansion plan while delivering exceptional value to our partners and customers worldwide.” ✈
