Haitham A. M. Al-Majali Managing Director of the Jordanian Duty Free Shops Co.
Haitham A. M. Al-Majali is member of Board & Managing Director of the Jordanian Duty Free Shops Co., Public Shareholder Co. He is also Member of "Co-ordination Committee - Special Economic Zone Authority – Aqaba" and Founder & Member of "Aqaba Friends Association" since 2003. Barbara Anderson Director, Retail Technology Group
A widely respected consultant with over 25 years experience, Barbara Anderson specializes in integrated supply and demand chain management for retailers, manufacturers and software companies in North America, Latin America and Europe. Barbara’s reputation as a forward thinker has often positioned her several years ahead of the industry. Her work writing and speaking to the trade as well as marketing her own and her clients’ software have afforded her the opportunity to develop unique skills in product design and positioning. Her book, “The Art and Science of CAO” on automated store replenishment led the industry on the concept and she has most recently created new ideas using RFID. Jan Baljet Director of Retail Operations – Eurasia & Asia Region, Dufry
Manager, Dufry Emirates
Before joining the Weitnauer Group of Companies in 1995, Jan worked for the Jac Hermans Group in various capacities: first as Assistant Manager in 1973, then as Manager of Retail Outlets in 1975 and finally as Regional Manager with responsibility for 28 outlets from 1989-1995.
Jan started his career with Weitnauer as Manager of the Food Village at Schiphol Amsterdam. Two years later, in 1997, he took on a number of roles within Weitnauer’s operations in the Middle East and Gulf: the supervision of the newly acquired Petra Jordan operation; supervision of the Duty Free Dubai Ports operation and management of Weitnauer’s purchasing in its Pakistan operations. During this same year he was made a Member of the Board and given the management of what was to become Dufry Emirates based in Sharjah, UAE, a position he still maintains. In 2003 Jan was made Director of Retail Operations - Eurasia & Asia Region.
Richard Burrows Director General, Pernod Ricard
Richard Burrows, Director General of Pernod Ricard since July 2000, began his career in the drinks industry in 1971 when he joined Irish Distillers Group. He was appointed Chief Executive of Irish Distillers Group in 1978 having previously served Irish Distillers Ltd as General Manager (1976) and as Managing Director of Old Bushmills Distillery (1972). Irish Distillers became a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard in 1988. In 1991 he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive of Irish Distillers Group. On May 17, 2004, Richard Burrows was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of Pernod Ricard.
Richard Burrows is a graduate of Wesley College, Dublin (Ireland) and a chartered accountant by profession. Former president of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, he is now Governor of the Bank of Ireland.
Pedro J. Castro Aldeasa Jordan A.D.F.S., Chief Executive Officer
Born in 1967 in Las Palmas (Canary Islands, SPAIN) attended the German School and got a degree in Political and Administration Science from the Complutense University in Madrid, specialicing in Foreign Affairs. He got later a Master in International studies from the Spanish Diplomatic School. Then worked for the Spanish Ministry of Trade, being posted in the Spanish Commercial Office in Santiago de Chile until 1st of February 1998 when he joined Aldeasa. Bernard Creed Financial Controller, Dubai Duty Free
Bernard Creed, CPA, is Financial Controller of Dubai Duty Free, the third largest duty free in the world of airports and expected to have a turnover in 2005 of approx. US$ 590 million. Bernard previously worked as Head of Finance & Systems with Bahrain Duty Free and before that worked in the manufacturing industry in Ireland and Scotland. At the start of his career in Ireland Bernard was a member of the Institute of taxation and specialized in advising both corporate and private clients.
Bernard is a 36 year old Irish National, enjoys travel, going to the gym
and the social life in Dubai. He is also treasurer of the Dubai Irish
society. Rachael Green Recruitment & Employee Development Manager,
Dubai Duty Free
Rachael began her career in 1988 in the food retail industry – J Sainsbury plc as a departmental Manager (Warehouse Manager, Grocery Manager & Customer Service Manager), moving to several different stores/locations in the UK. She moved into training when appointed Regional Training Officer for J Sainsbury and in 1994 went on to become Regional Training Manager.
She left J Sainsbury after nine years and joined the Co-operative Retail Services group as Management Development Manager before moving to Coca Cola & Schweppes as Regional Training Manager. Richard Isaac Retail Operations Manager, Abu Dhabi Duty Free
Richard started out in the retail industry in the United Kingdom with Debenhams UK, working in 4 different locations across the country. He opened, and then managed, the first International Debenhams Department Store which was situated in Bahrain, and operated by MH Alshaya Co. Richard proceeded to open and manage Debenhams at Deira City Centre Dubai and at Doha City Centre in Qatar. In July 2004 he joined Abu Dhabi Duty Free where he is responsible for the retail operations in Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal l, Terminal 1A and Terminal 2.
“I have always had a passion for selling and creating an enjoyable shopping environment for customers with the aid of highly motivated staff and aided by the latest retail technology. Nothing pleases me more than to see staff progress through to higher positions reflecting the success of our operation. With the expansion plans ahead at Abu Dhabi airport the future is bright and that is something we are all excited about it”, he says.
Erik Juul-Mortensen President, TFWA
Erik Juul-Mortensen joined Danish Distillers in 1987 as Vice-President of the newly established export and duty free division and was promoted in 1990 to Senior Vice-President and Export Director. In 1996 followed the promotion to International Director.
Following the acquisition in December 1999 of Danish Distillers by V&S Vin & Sprit AB and subsequent changes to the business structure, Erik Juul-Mortensen transferred to the newly created business unit in Stockholm, V&S International Brands, with the title of Senior Vice President and Commercial Director.
With the creation in October 2001 of a new duty free & travel retail unit to handle all V&S brands in this special market including ABSOLUT Vodka, he was promoted to President, V&S Global Duty Free & Travel Retail.
Krishna Kumari Asst. General Manager, Qatar Duty Free Company
Miss Kumari joined Qatar Duty Free in September 2002. She is the representative of the parent holding company Qatar Airways and also single handedly looks after the Qatar Airways Inflight Duty Free business. She has been in retail/marketing and sales for the last three years.
Before joining Qatar Duty Free, Miss Kumari was working with Hilton International, UK, as Regional Director of Sales in the Middle East department for three years
She is a natural leader and a strategic thinker who will not accept “no” for an answer. Miss Kumari is known for her people management abilities, creative thinking and sense of perfection. She is the driving force in the success stories of Qatar Duty Free and Qatar Airways Inflight Duty Free. Colm McLoughlin Managing Director, Dubai Duty Free
Born in 1943, Irishman Colm Mcloughlin began his retail career with Woolworths, a well-known chain of department stores, in London in the early 1960's. Returning to Ireland in 1969, he joined Shannon airport duty free and went on to become general manager.
In 1983 he was a member of the consultancy team from AerRianta International contracted to launch the new duty free operation. He remained in Dubai as General Manager of the new operation, later becoming Managing Director, and has been instrumental in helping to build one of the most successful duty free operations in the world which is currently ranked No. 3 in terms of turnover (based on 2004 figures of US$500 million). Michael Murphy General Manager & Financial Controller, Aer Rianta Middle East
A Chartered Accountant with over twenty years experience in doing business in the Middle East, Mike Murphy started his career with KPMG in Ireland. He subsequently worked with several multinational companies including United Technologies and Abbott Laboratories before moving to Saudi Arabia in 1985 to take up employment with Lockheed Martin.
Mike joined Aer Rianta International Middle East as Regional Financial Controller in 1996 and was appointed General Manager in 2003. Has had a key role in ARIME’s expansion in the region and has broad experience in project start-ups in various countries within the region including Oman, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon and Qatar. Gwyneth Olofsson Gwyneth Olofsson owes her peculiar name to her Welsh mother and her Swedish husband. She was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, and has an MA in English literature, and postgraduate qualifications in education and in TEFL. After teaching in England and Singapore she came to Sweden in 1982 where she established Communico, a language and intercultural training company. She has written two books, the first on the problems of speaking “Swenglish,” Everyone Makes Mistakes, and the second one, When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh, on the problems which arise for employees when a company begins to work across cultural borders.
She has written a regular intercultural column for the Volvo Group’s Global magazine since 1997, and is Infomaster for Volvo IT’s English language website. As well as teaching and writing, she is an examiner in English for the International Baccalaureate organisation and is a member of SIETAR Europa.
Premal R. Patel Marketing Director, American Express Middle East
Prem was educated in the United Kingdom where he gained a HND Business & Finance from Kingston University and a BA (Honours) degree in Business Economics from the City of London Polytechnic (now Guildhall University). He went on to gain the Chartered Institute of Marketing Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing and is now a full Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He also gained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Direct Marketing and is now a full Member of the Institute of Direct Marketing. Mark Riches Managing Director, World Duty Free Europe
Mark was appointed Managing Director, World Duty Free Europe in November 2001. His responsibilities increased to incorporate International for BAA in 2004 when he was appointed Managing Director, Global Airport Retail & World Duty Free.
Mark has been in retail throughout his career. He started with Marks & Spencer where his career involved a range of responsibilities in retail operations, capital investment, marketing, store design and a pioneering role in the development of the company’s European presence in the 1980s. He became Managing Director of Cargo Club, the UK’s first Warehouse Club business, a subsidiary of Nurdin & Peacock Ltd. Mark then became Chief Executive of The Sweater Shop Group Ltd., Group Operations and Development Director of the Asprey Group before joining BAA as Retail Director Heathrow Airport in 1999. He is also non-executive Chairman of Fox Murphy Ltd., a regional marketing and advertising agency. | 
