USA. WHSmith has appointed Ziad El-Assad as Senior Vice President of Business Development – USA.
Since acquiring InMotion Entertainment in November 2018, WHSmith International said it had been developing a plan to enter the US news and gifts travel market with the WHSmith brand.
El-Assad’s principal responsibility will be to lead WHSmith’s travel retail expansion within the USA, and he will also be tasked with formulating brand partnerships and establishing operating joint ventures.
El-Assad previously served as Vice President of Business Development for airport concessionaire NewsLink Group.
“I am thrilled to join WHSmith and lead expansion efforts within the USA,” he said. “With all the recent consolidation in the travel retail industry, this is an opportune time for a world-class organisation with a long and rich history in travel retail to enter the US market, and offer both airports and passengers alike fresh and innovative travel convenience and retail concepts.”
WHSmith International Managing Director Phil McNally commented: “I am delighted that Ziad, with his many years of experience in the industry, has decided to join WHSmith at this very exciting time.
“The appointment of Ziad is a crucial step towards our goal of establishing a meaningful presence for the WHSmith brand in the USA.”
