PORTUGAL. Portugal Duty Free, a partnership between ANA/VINCI Airports and Aer Rianta International (ARI), has appointed Alain Brun as Chief Executive Officer.
Brun, who took up his position on 22 August, is a highly experienced travel sector executive having most recently been Chief Executive Officer for Cambodia Airports from August 2019. Earlier he spent four years as Business Development Director Asia Pacific for Vinci Airports Singapore.
Brun leads a 600-plus team and is overseeing the extensive refurbishment project that is underway across eight airport duty free locations as part of ARI’s 18-month implementation plan.
The new Portugal Duty Free experience will include an array of innovative new retail concepts designed to proudly encapsulate the essence of ‘Portugalidade’ (the feeling and heritage of ‘being Portuguese’) in line with what ARI and ANA/VINCI Airports’ described as their signature Sense of Place.
ARI Chief Executive Officer Ray Hernan commented: “On behalf of ARI, I extend a warm welcome to Alain Brun as he assumes his new role as Chief Executive Officer. He shares our commitment to excellence and placing the customer at the heart of everything we do to deliver an unrivalled, unique retail proposition.
“We are excited to begin this new chapter for Portugal Duty Free and are confident that Alain’s leadership and expertise will guide our colleagues and the business on the path to continued success.”
Thierry Ligonnière, Portugal & Brazil Director of VINCI Airports and CEO of ANA commented: “We are very pleased to welcome Alain Brun to the team at Portugal Duty Free. Alain carries a wealth of experience across several sectors, most notably his aviation industry expertise and extensive experience at VINCI, ensuring that Portugal Duty Free is poised for success.
“As Alain assumes his new position as Chief Executive Officer, we look forward to delivering our bespoke retail concepts and encapsulating a true Sense of Place for customers of Portugal Duty Free across all locations.”
