Laila Mohd Suhail, CEO of Dubai Tourism (left) presenting the Icons of Retail award to Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin
Colm McLoughlin, Dubai Duty Free's Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, has been named one of Images RetailME's 100 Icons of Retail at an exclusive celebration and awards gala at the Address Dubai Marina.
Organized by Images RetailME, a retail intelligence media brand in the Middle East, the Icons of Retail Awards recognized the outstanding achievements and invaluable contributions of aspirational and transformational retail leaders in the MENA region.
According to the company, McLoughlin was acknowledged for his visionary leadership that has resulted in Dubai Duty Free's success in retailing for 40 years now. Prior to the evening awards gala, McLoughlin was one of the speakers at the Images RetailME symposium on transformational retail leadership entitled “THINK! I CAN!”. The one-day program, which focused on the idea of decoding ‘what makes an ICON’, aimed at creating a day of learning for the retail industry and to help create the industry’s next Icons.
During his session, where he was interviewed by DXB Today host Katie Overy, McLoughlin talked about his role in Dubai Duty Free’s retail success.
"I’m deeply honored and very touched to be named as one of the 100 Icons of Retail in the MENA region. My thanks to Images RetailME team for organizing the event and thanks to the jury. As always, my thanks to our Chairman, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and to our extraordinary team of employees."
As a tribute to all the Icons, a first-of-its-kind ICONS Book has also been launched. The ICONS of Retail Yearbook is an initiative to recognize the transformational achievements of MENA’s most powerful retail personalities who have, through their efforts, brought about iconic changes to the domain of retail.
The honorees list is divided into four segments – the Legacy Makers, the Visionaries, the Trailblazers, and the Disruptors — and has been painstakingly compiled following a year-long process of research, analysis, and adjudication. Joining McLoughlin in the list are Patrick Chalhoub, CEO of Chalhoub Group; Renuka Jagtiani, CEO of Landmark Group; M. A. Yusuff Ali, Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group International and Toufic Kreidieh, CEO of Brands for Less.
