Paul Murray, CEO Middle East, Overseas Distribution Company.

Overseas Distribution Company (ODC) is opening a new commercial and logistics office in Dubai, led by industry specialist Paul Murray, who is joining the business as CEO Middle East to run its operations in the region.

“I’m delighted to be joining ODC at this exciting time for the company’s expansion which will allow us to deliver a platform offering regional and localised distribution solutions to our partner brands bringing them closer to market, reducing both lead times and reaction times to enhance speed and delivery through regional stock holding in Dubai,” said Murray.

“Our key focus will be maintaining our proven world-class speed to market supply chain expertise and providing turnkey solutions to connect our partners with key travel retail customers across the Middle East, Indian Ocean, Africa and Asia Pacific regions, underpinned by excellent service and quality standards.”

Murray will join ODC in August, bringing more than 25 years’ experience working within the travel retail industry. Most recently, he has spent 15 years in a senior management position at MMI in Dubai.

With his breadth of industry experience across strategic planning, development and execution of airline and airport businesses in the Middle East – spanning the full management of more than 30 FMCG brand partnerships across multiple duty free shop operators, alcohol category management for airlines, airport lounges and F&B outlets – Murray is ideally positioned to help grow ODC’s reach and new business in the Middle East.

“Dubai’s location is a strategic choice providing favourable logistics facilities and infrastructure, to provide our brand partners efficient distribution and supply chain solutions across the Middle East, Indian Ocean, Africa and Asia Pacific regions,” said Manuel Demaerel, Commercial Director at ODC.

“We are in the process of setting up the legal entity in Dubai and we anticipate this completing in the coming months. We look forward to a long and successful collaboration working with Paul in Dubai, to offer an extended route to market for our partners.”

ODC works with a variety of leading brands in the tobacco, beer, wine and spirits, confectionery, perfume and cosmetics categories.

The company is also headquartered in Antwerp, where is has a logistics centre with a warehouse spanning 14,000 square metres and stocking more than 4,000 SKUs of duty free products.

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