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Anthony Chalhoub takes the role of President for a two-year term |
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Tarek Hamila becomes Vice President |
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Eugene Barry is named Treasurer |
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John Sime is Secretary General |
MIDDLE EAST. Habchi & Chalhoub Managing Director Anthony Chalhoub has been elected President of the Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA). A new board of directors, which will steer the organization until April 2009 was named at the Annual General Meeting in Dubai last week.
Société Hamila pour le Commerce et l’Industrie Chairman and CEO Tarek Hamila becomes Vice President and Dufry Sharjah General Manager Eugene Barry is Treasurer. Emirates Duty Free Manager John Sime was named Secretary General. MEDFA also welcomed a new member, Kuwait Duty Free retailer Aldeasa That Es Salasil, represented by Maher Qassab.
Outgoing President Colm McLoughlin thanked board members for their support and wished new President Chalhoub well.
McLoughlin highlighted some of the organisation’s achievements in 2006. He said the training programme “Train the trainer” proved the determination of the association in contributing to the growth of the industry by improving the skills and expertise of its workforce.
A second training project, “Advanced Negotiation Skills” will take place in Oman during May 2007, targeted at senior duty free executives.
The MEDFA Conference, said the association, would be improved by introducing new topics and more high-calibre speakers.
The conference will take place in Dubai on 30 November to 1 December 2007. The Dubai Duty Free Golf tournament will follow on 2-3 December. MEDFA will continue to support the Middle East Exclusive Exhibition, which will be held this year on 4-6 December.
The new MEDFA board is as follows:
Abu Dhabi Airport Catering & Duty Free – Mohamed Mounib
AerRianta International Middle East – John Sutcliffe
Dubai Duty Free – Colm McLoughlin
Dufry Emirates – Eugene Barry
Emirates Airlines – John Sime
Habchi & Chalhoub – Anthony Chalhoub
Hamila Duty Free – Tarek Hamila
International Duty Free and Trading Agencies – Kamal Toulan
Jordanian Duty Free Shops – Haitham Al Majali
Tax Free World Association – Olivier Charriaud
MORE STORIES ON MEDFA
Optimism tempered with realism as MEDFA Conference begins in Dubai – 23/11/06
MEDFA completes successful first multi-retailer training programme – 26/06/06
MEDFA Conference 2005: record-breaking attendance
