Mounib leaves ADDF after 23 years

Gavin Lipsith

Print Article E-Mail Article E-Mail Author

Mohamed Mounib is to step down as Abu Dhabi Duty Free managing director and Abu Dhabi Airports Company commercial director to become CEO at a hotel management and property company

Abu Dhabi Duty Free managing director Mohamed Mounib is to leave the company, and his other role as commercial director of Abu Dhabi Airport Company, on August 1. Mounib, who has steered ADDF for the past 23 years, is to become CEO of hotel management and property company Pearl Azure.

Mounib said that he had been working to identify a new business model for Abu Dhabi International airport since January, following the privatisation process and the formation of Abu Dhabi Airport Company last year. He said: “With this phase almost completed, and with new divisions being established as individual entities, I believe the time has come for me to seek new horizons.”

He added that he was proud of the team he had built up an worked with at the airport, mentioning in particular Niveen Ibrahim, general manager of Abu Dhabi Duty Free, who will be the most senior executive at the company following Mounib’s departure; Paul Haines, general manager catering; Ayman Mashour, general manager hospitality services; S. Hamid, general manager support services; and Peter Hoslin, head of aviation marketing.

“I am confident that this remarkable team will continue to successfully lead their departments at the airport during this exciting new era,” said Mounib.

Pearl Azure has recently acquired three 5-star hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and will launch its first hotel to be managed by the new brand early next year.

Mounib’s parting message to the duty-free industry was: “Working in such a diversified industry I have been fortunate to work with and meet many people from numerous different walks of life. Attending exhibitions, conferences and many meetings has given me a chance to make new acquaintances and to meet up with old friends—each encounter adding something to my life either professionally or personally and I thank you all.”