Emirates strengthens commercial operations team

Emirates has moved to strengthen its market position in the 100 destinations it flies to with several key appointments in its commercial operations team.
The Dubai-based airline remains focused on expanding its services, recently increasing flights into Dammam, Beirut and Tehran, and this move is further testament to its ongoing commitment to the development of its global network.
Richard Vaughan, an Australian with more than four decades of travel industry experience, has been promoted to Divisional Senior Vice President (DSVP), while UAE Nationals Ahmed Khoory, Salem Obaidalla and Majid Al Mualla all take senior roles in the commercial operations department.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, believes the appointments will give the airline the strength to develop markets despite current economic pressures.
Sheikh Ahmed said: “Richard, as well as Ahmed, Salem and Majid, are tremendous assets to the company, showing great dedication during their time with Emirates.
“The appointment of these talented individuals will give us the ability to consolidate and grow our business in what will be a challenging year for the airline industry.”
° Mr Vaughan, who joined Emirates in 2004, becomes DSVP Commercial Operations Worldwide, while also retaining responsibility for East Asia & Australasia in the team which is responsible for the development of revenue strategies in the 61 countries that Emirates flies to. One of four DSVPs appointed this month at Emirates, Mr Vaughan brings vast international experience to his new role after holding a number of executive positions during an impressive career which has featured 16 years with the Concorde Group in his homeland, six at Gulf Air, in Bahrain, and 13 at British Airways.
° Mr Khoory, the new SVP Commercial Operations - GCC, Middle East and Iran, is a product of the company’s successful trainee management scheme. Since joining in 1985 on graduation from the University of Denver, Colorado, he has held several executive positions, most notably SVP - Dubai Airport Development. In this post he was instrumental in the planning and opening of the state-of-the-art Terminal 3 at Dubai International.
° Mr Obaidalla, another graduate of the trainee management scheme who joined Emirates in 1991, becomes SVP Commercial Operations - Europe and Russian Federation - after a short but successful period as SVP Commercial Operations - West Asia, Indian Ocean and Africa. He brings a wealth of international knowledge to his new role after spending the early part of his career posted in Iran, Bangladesh and Lebanon before a spell in the UAE earned him a promotion to VP, India & Nepal in 2005.
° Mr Al Mualla, who started with Emirates in 1996, takes on responsibility for the developing West Asia & Indian Ocean region in his new VP Commercial Operations post, after impressing as VP UAE Sales. Mr Al Mualla, also a product of the trainee programme, joined the company on graduation from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. He also brings vast global experience to the position after postings in Riyadh, Bangladesh, Lebanon and the UK.
The addition of Africa to the portfolio of Nigel Page, SVP Commercial Operations for the Americas, rounds up the changes in the team.

Source: Transportweekly