QATAR. Qatar Duty Free (QDF), owner and operator of all retail and food & beverage (F&B) outlets at Hamad International Airport in Doha, today announced the appointment of two highly regarded senior executives to its leadership team.
Grant Fleming joins the business as Vice President, Food & Beverage and Nuno Moreira as Vice President, Strategy & Commercial, with immediate effect. Both report to Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President Thabet Musleh.
Musleh commented: “Team QDF prides itself on delivering the highest standards and that all starts with the quality of our people.
“In Grant and Nuno, we have added two outstanding professionals who bring an exceptional blend of expertise, experience and energy to our award-winning team. I’m delighted to welcome such high-calibre leaders onboard and look forward to their positive impact on our business.”
Musleh added: “These roles are all about pushing and growing the business further and building on the great work the QDF team have done in doubling the business since 2019. Together, we look forward to connecting with our partners and peers as we seek to create a new travel, shopping and dining experience for the next generation of travellers.”
Grant Fleming will be responsible for QDF’s F&B division, including joint ventures and concessionaires, and is tasked with helping the world’s best Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year (as judged by The Moodie Davitt Report’s FAB Awards 2023 held in Bangkok, Thailand earlier this month) to retain its leadership position.
He brings over 25 years of global experience in travel retail and F&B operations, managing large teams in diverse markets, with a focus on optimising operations, driving revenue generation and elevating customer experiences through innovation.
Fleming joins QDF from Singapore, where he recently worked as Director of Operations APAC for Google at Compass Group. Prior to this, the Australian had a 15-year tenure within Lagardère Travel Retail, as Head of Strategic Partnerships APAC, as well as a global role as Vice President of Development Strategy, Innovations and Sustainable Development in Paris.
He is also a former President of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA).
Nuno Moreira will lead QDF’s Procurement, Business Intelligence and Commercial functions, with a strategic focus on ensuring QDF achieves its growth plans, maintains profitability and builds its reputation as a world leader in airport retail.
Moreira’s 20-year career in travel retail and commercial operations spans roles with Heathrow Airport, The Nuance Group and Dufry Group as Global Head of Category for Tobacco. He most recently was Extra-Aero Commercial Director for ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal. ✈
About Qatar Duty Free
Featuring over 200 retail and dining outlets, Qatar Duty Free (QDF) is on a mission to create a new airport experience while reinventing airport shopping and dining for a new generation of travellers. Since its initial conception in 2000, with less than 50 staff members, QDF has grown to over 4,000 employees from 62 nationalities.
QDF sits within a unique, wider eco-system that also includes Qatar Airways (the parent company) and Hamad International Airport. This ‘Trinity’ model of airport, retailer and airline creates a world-class airport retail experience for passengers, QDF says.
“Each company harmonises with the other as part of an integrated ecosystem. Together, we provide our shared customer base with a 5-star experience, including innovative retail products, global brand firsts, exclusives and exceptional dining opportunities.”
Qatar Duty Free has been named the ‘World’s Leading Airport Duty Free Operator 2022’ and ‘the Middle East’s Leading Airport Duty Free Operator 2022’ in the World Travel Awards. It also won the 2022 “Best Customer Experience Airport Retailer” at the Global Brands Magazine Awards, and recently scooped an unprecedented 12 titles at the Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Awards 2023, including Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year.
Hamad International Airport was named ‘World’s Best Airport for Shopping’ at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2023, attributed to Qatar Duty Free’s retail and F&B strategy to offer the best experience for passengers at the airport.
FAB EZINE SET TO RETURNThe Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to announce the return of the FAB eZine, a standalone digital magazine dedicated to airport and other travel-related food & beverage views, news, trends, tastes, people, product and principles. Initially quarterly, beginning in Q4 2023, The FAB eZine will devote year-round coverage to the burgeoning airport food & beverage sector, including broader hospitality services such as hotels and lounges.  The FAB eZine will complement the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards and our already extensive F&B and hospitality coverage on The Moodie Davitt Report.com and in The FAB Newsletter.  Elişa Roche has been appointed Editor-in-Chief, bringing a rare combination of culinary and journalistic excellence and experience to the role. Elişa trained as a chef as part of ‘Jamie’s Kitchen’, a British TV show watched by millions and fronted by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. She went on to work as Chef de Partie at some of London’s top Michelin-starred kitchens, e.g. Fino (now Barrafina), The Ivy and Bambou. Cooking later turned to food writing and presenting, most recently as overseeing editorial partnerships at Food Matters Live. Elişa was also Host and Producer of award-winning B2B podcast ‘Career Conversations’, encouraging young people into the food & drinks industry. *For editorial enquiries please contact Elişa Roche at Elisa@MoodieDavittReport.com. For advertising please reach out to Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com |
