Colm McLoughlin steps down as Dubai Duty Free CEO & EVP

Colm McLoughlin has stepped down as the Executive Vice Chairman & CEO of Dubai Duty Free, after 41 years of service to the company.

Colm joined DDF in 1983 and led the company's growth and expansion as the world's largest duty-free business. He will continue to attend the company-sponsored sports events and serve as an advisor and Chairman of the DDF Foundation. Before joining DDF, Colm served as a member of the original consultancy team from Aer Rianta, the Irish Airport Authority, which was later contracted by the Dubai Government to launch the new duty-free operation in 1983. He assumed the role of General Manager and reported to then Director General, Mohi-Din BinHendi. He was appointed Managing Director in 2011. In his recent role, Colm oversaw DDF and its subsidiaries, including The Irish Village restaurants, The Century Village, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, and the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel.

In his recent role, Colm oversaw DDF and its subsidiaries including, The Irish Village restaurants, The Century Village, the DDF Tennis Stadium, and the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel. He led rapid business growth for the company during his tenure and received 780 awards, 86 of which were attributed directly to him. These include the 'Most Distinguished Employee Award' presented in 2000 by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Commenting on his exit news, Colm stated, “I am pleased to announce my retirement and want to extend my sincere thanks to all of our management and staff who have supported me so well. A huge thanks, of course, to our Chairman, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who has been a wonderful boss to me for all these years and who I know will give the same level of support to my successor. Longevity is a key factor in the success of Dubai Duty Free, and both Ramesh and Salah are great examples of this. I am confident that Dubai Duty Free will continue to grow, and I see a very bright future for the operation.”

Following Colm’s exit, Ramesh Cidambi, who currently holds the position as the Chief Operating Officer, will take over as the Managing Director, effective June 1, 2024. He will report directly to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of DDF. Additionally, Salah Tahlak, who currently holds the position of Joint Chief Operating Officer, will assume responsibilities as the Deputy Managing Director of DDF, starting June 1, 2024.

Ramesh, who joined DDF in 1987 as the head of the IT division, held several leadership roles in various functions, including logistics, retail development, and the leisure division. He assumed his most recent role in 2016 after the retirement of George Horan. He played a pivotal role in all of the company's operations, including overseeing major retail projects at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport.

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Taking over his new responsibilities, Cidambi commented, “I want to thank our Chairman, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and our Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin, for this appointment. Colm is a legendary figure in our industry and has been a fantastic role model for me and our entire team. I wish him and his wife Breeda a very happy retirement. I am looking forward to this next chapter of my career and to working with the team to continue driving the business across both our retail and leisure divisions.”

On the other hand, Salah, who joined DDF in 1992, and held several leadership roles, including as the head of the Marketing division, Head of Corporate Communication, Executive VP of Corporate Services, and Corporate Security, overseeing IT, Marketing, and Logistics. He has also been the Tournament Director of the company’s Tennis Championships since 2003.

Salah also expressed, "I have had a long and rewarding career with Dubai Duty Free and I want to thank our Chairman, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and of course, Colm McLoughlin, for this new opportunity. Colm has been like a father figure to me over the years, and I have learned so much from him. I wish him, Breeda, and the whole McLoughlin family many happy years of retirement.”