Cappell resigns role at Abu Dhabi Duty Free--UPDATE

John Rimmer

Print Article E-Mail Article E-Mail Author

The Middle Eastern retailer's deputy managing director is to leave his post at the end of May to join Aer Rianta International-Middle East

Dan Cappell has resigned from his post as deputy managing director of Abu Dhabi Duty Free (ADDF). The experienced duty-free executive, who joined the Middle Eastern retailer from Nestle International Travel Retail in 2002, will leave ADDF at the end of this month to join Bahrain-based operator Aer Rianta International-Middle East (ARI-ME) as general manager of operations. He will begin his new role on June 18.

ADDF managing director Mohamed Mounib said: "We obviously regret his decision to move on but fully understand his rationale and on behalf of the team at Abu Dhabi, I thank him for his contribution in developing our business and take this opportunity to wish him the very best as he enters the next phase of his career."

Cappell told RavenFox.com: "I have had a fabulous four years in Abu Dhabi, during which I have been fortunate enough to work with a great team under Mohamed Mounib's guidance. However opportunities like the ARI-ME role do not come up that often and having discussed the role with [ARI-ME managing director] John Sutcliffe and knowing the evolution of ARI-ME within the region, it was one of those offers I couldn't refuse. I am very much looking forward to joining John and the ARI-ME team and getting to grips with my new role. However until May 31 I am still with ADDF and still have much to do in my role here."

Cappell has helped ADDF through a period of rapid expansion as the retailer has benefited from the traffic growth prompted by fast-growing UAE carrier Etihad. Last year Abu Dhabi airport opened two new terminals and has ambitious plans for another. Cappell has been credited with helping improve standards of merchandising at Abu Dhabi and with guiding ADDF's attempts to develop its assortment to appeal to the increasing number of European and east Asian travellers at the airport.

At Nestle Cappell was one of the first general managers of the confectioner's travel-retail division, now one of the leading suppliers to the travel-retail industry.

More details and reaction will appear in DFNI May 15, out next week.