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John Sutcliffe: Overseeing a business worth close to US$1 billion in managed turnover in 2010 |
MIDDLE EAST. Aer Rianta International-Middle East Managing Director John Sutcliffe has been named The Moodie Report Personality of the Month for October, in association with The Dalmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Sutcliffe’s retirement (long flagged to friends and colleagues in the trade) from the company was confirmed last month, and he is set to leave a rich and lasting legacy when he leaves on 31 December.
The Moodie Report Personality of the Month is a regular online feature, supported by leading Highland malt The Dalmore. It aims to recognise those individuals who by their deeds, attitudes and behaviour advance the industry’s cause.
Sutcliffe certainly fits that description. Having joined Irish airports group Aer Rianta in 1977, he was part of the now legendary team that arrived on secondment to help set up Dubai Duty Free in 1983.
After seven years helping to build that business – now the world’s largest duty free operation at a single location – Sutcliffe moved back to Aer Rianta International, spending two years as General Manager at Moscow Duty Free, before leaving for a key new role heading Bahrain Duty Free back in the Middle East in 1992.
A year later, ARI-Middle East was formed. From just US$25 million in revenues in year one, the company will have close to US$1 billion in managed turnover in 2010.
Throughout his career, Sutcliffe has combined a strong work ethic, an ability to mix with and adapt to different cultures, and a keen insight into the dynamics of the business – all backed by a firm belief that life is there to be lived to the full.
On announcing the choice of his successor – Philip Eckles – in the key Middle East role recently, ARI Director General Eamon Foley paid fulsome tribute to Sutcliffe. He said: “John has been the driving force behind ARI’s success in the Middle East for many years. He has built our business to the dominant position that we enjoy today.” The Moodie Report and The Dalmore teams wish him well in his future ventures.
Previous Personalities of the Month include Zürich Airport Chief Commercial Officer Peter Eriksson, Schiphol Group Business Area Consumers Managing Director Otto Ambagtsheer, Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Colm McLoughlin and Sydney Airport General Manager, Retail Derek Larsen.
Each monthly selection will also enter the shortlist for The Moodie Report’s popular People of the Year Awards, named at the end of each year. The monthly selections will also receive a bottle of The Dalmore Single Highland Malt.
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Speaking out: John Sutcliffe at the 2009 Middle East Duty Free Conference |
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