ESTONIA. Cruise ferry operator Tallink Grupp has named Tallinn Airport former CEO and Chairman Piret Mürk-Dubout to its management board. Her mandate, effective from 15 April, will run for three years.
As part of a wide-ranging brief Mürk-Dubout will oversee the core revenue-generating division of the company, Tallink Duty Free.
Tallink Duty Free restaurant and shop revenue in 2017 was €536.7 million or 56% of Tallink Grupp’s total business.
She will also be responsible for group sales and marketing, the corporate brand, onboard services and corporate social responsibility.
New reporting line for Tallink Duty Free
A Tallink Grupp spokesperson confirmed to The Moodie Davitt Report that the existing top management at Tallink Duty Free – CEO Aimar Pärna and Director of Business Development Magnus Skjörshammer – will now report to Mürk-Dubout. They previously reported direct to the group’s CEO Paavo Nõgene.
The spokesperson said: “Aimar will start reporting directly to Piret after she joins. Magnus reports to Aimar and will continue to do so.”
Mürk-Dubout’s appointment was made based on recommendations from Chairman of the management board of Tallink Grupp, Paavo Nõgene, and the supervisory board. The supervisory board additionally recalled Andres Hunt from the management board following his resignation. Hunt’s mandate concludes on 26 February.
“Fresh ideas, knowledge and energy”
Nõgene said: “I wanted to strengthen our board with someone who has extensive sales and marketing experience, and who also has significant international experience. I am convinced Piret will bring fresh ideas, knowledge and energy into Tallink Grupp.”
From 15 April, the management board of Tallink Grupp will have five members: Paavo Nõgene, Lembit Kitter, Kadri Land, Harri Hanschmidt and Piret Mürk-Dubout.
Mürk-Dubout’s previous career spans many years in the telecoms business, and in media and communications before that. She was Senior Vice President at Telia Sonera Estonia between 2014 and 2016 and from 2013 to 2014 in Stockholm, she was Vice President, Head of Group Brands and Corporate Marketing at Telia Sonera Sweden where she was responsible for branding and corporate marketing strategy across 18 countries. Between 2010 and 2013 she was Vice President, Head of Commercial Development at the same company, responsible for Baltic and Nordic countries.
From 2007 to 2011 Mürk-Dubout worked as Head of Strategy at Estonian Telecom, and from 2008 to 2010 she was also Chairman of Serenada Investment OÜ. Between 2004 and 2011 she held the position of Member of the Board, Marketing Director at Estonian mobile operator EMT.