The Moodie Davitt Report may bear the names of its Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie and long-time President (and since 2015 co-owner) Dermot Davitt but there is a lot more to the company than its two leaders.
Our diverse and inclusive, multi-talented, multi-cultural 24-member team (including regular freelancers and consultants) is based across numerous locations, including Hong Kong, Hainan, Ireland, Rhodes (Greece), Wales, England and the Philippines.
They speak eight languages between them and collectively represent the leading travel retail B2B publisher and events company with distinction across administration & finance, editorial, events, film, research, sales and technology.
We are pleased to introduce the team in this regular column. We begin with our Vice President Sales Sarah Genest.
Tell us a little about yourself
I was born in London but from the age of four was moving around the world thanks to my father’s career in international banking. We lived in Africa, the USA, Japan, South Korea and Abu Dhabi. I know there are not many youngsters who have had the opportunity to experience life in those countries. It was eye-opening, even if I probably didn’t realise it at the time.
I guess that’s where my love of travel, and of airports, was born. At 13, I travelled by myself on a 17-hour flight to Tokyo via Anchorage. I can’t tell you how many times I stood to look at the giant stuffed polar bear in that airport en route to join my family.
I believe it was the tourist/traveller in me that also dictated my choice of university and, at that time, an unusual degree: a BSc (Hons) in Management Studies in Hotel & Tourism Industries. It was a four-year course with a year in the industry.
After graduating I worked in the sector, but the world of publishing and media was definitely calling. Largely because it paid better, and I found living in London so expensive. I began working with large publishing houses in B2B across many sectors from electronics, farming and accountancy (have you ever tried to sell to an accountant? I have and did successfully!) to flight and then to travel retail.
In between, I also worked in the Caribbean and the UAE. I fell in love, moved to Paris and learnt French before falling out of love. Along the way, I lost the husband but kept the French language. My ambition this year is to learn Italian.
At one of my first meetings in Paris with a client in travel retail he described the industry as “one big carousel, you just change the animals”. Strange comment I thought but shrugged it off as I knew I wouldn’t be in the industry that long. And here I am two decades later.
Why? Largely because it’s constantly changing; there is always something new, another hurdle, a new challenge, a new partnership. It’s fun; the people are interesting and ah, yes, I’m still travelling.
When did you join The Moodie Davitt Report?
I had to look this one up! I joined Martin Moodie at what was then The Moodie Report over 17 years ago. My position was meant to be short-term, a part-time role that was extended, and extended.
As they say, the rest is history.
What is your role? I am on the commercial team; client-facing, selling, doing what I do best.
One or more highlight(s) of your time with The Moodie Davitt Report?
It must be highlights as there are quite a few involving campaigns with clients. For example, launching our first Podcast service with Puig as a sponsor which involved sending ‘Moodie blue’ iPods out to industry executives so they could tune in.
Then there was the creation of the industry’s first ever ‘web makeover’, with William Grant & Sons for the weird and wonderful International Cucumber Day. Another standout is including Mondelez-sponsored 3D glasses with our magazine so people could experience footage from an airport without being there. With augmented reality it’s commonplace now but it wasn’t then.
I recall sitting as a guest at an awards dinner and being struck by the number of strong, inspirational women in airports and turning to my client and saying we need to create an initiative in airport food & beverage to recognise this. FAB Women was born. And more recently, the upcoming exciting campaign with ARI for International Women’s Day 2024 to rally our industry together to inspire inclusion.
What is your approach to work, your business philosophy?
You have to love what you do. Do it with a passion or pack up and go home. And, importantly, have fun along the way.
I’d also add a word that a great woman in our industry, Nadine Heubel, recently wrote about and which truly resonated with me – #authenticity. Nadine wrote a brilliant post which I admire.
You love airports. What is your duty free must-have?
Oh, that’s an easy one. I always make a beeline for the beauty section and invariably buy a fragrance.
And a desert island must-have?
Lipstick. I can take on the world with a good lipstick… and I would need some music like Shakatak Day by Day (feat.Al Jarreau) to keep me dancing.
What makes you tick?
Perhaps I can rephrase that to what gets me up in the morning. That has to be my family, my friends, my beautiful dog Maddie and supportive colleagues who can make my day.
I am the mother of three boys, two in their 20s and one late teenager. Heavens they seem to have grown up in the blink of an eye. It is something very special to look at your children and to be super proud of them.
My friends range from old school mates to yoga partners and work associates. That’s another plus about the travel retail industry. So many people I’ve met through work over the years have become friends. Combined, they are my kaleidoscope, and I couldn’t imagine life without them.
Having said that I consider myself strong (some may say opinionated), independent and positive thinking. I have learned not to dwell on the past, rather to learn from it and move on.
How important are leisure time and out of work interests?
Very important. A hard lesson I have learned in life is that you can’t look after others if you don’t take care of yourself too. So, getting out and about with friends and family, exercising, taking time to smell those flowers and enjoy nature are all an important part of balancing work and personal life.
My dog is a key member of my family. Maddie’s been through a hard time lately and I have been somehow able to return the love and support she has offered me unconditionally over recent years.
And I can’t knock the benefits of a glass of my favourite wine or dark rum. Sometimes a quiet moment can put life into perspective as well. 
