Qatar Duty Free has made six new appointments to its senior leadership team.

Qatar Duty Free (QDF) has bolstered its senior management ranks with a series of appointments that it says underpins its continued expansion.

Vanessa Lixiong Xian takes the helm as Head of Strategy and Program; Katie Kiddle steps into the newly created role of Head of Loyalty; Sonia Marie Imasdounian joins as Head of HR Qatar Duty free; Joanne Morris is recruited as Confectionery Category Manager; Sara Di Carlo takes on the position of Head of Luxury Retail Operations; and Ria Chauhan is enlisted as Head of Procurement.

In a statement, QDF says the new hires demonstrate the travel retailer’s ‘continuous commitment to driving innovation, operational excellence, and delivering unparalleled customer experiences while reinforcing its strategy of continuous growth and leadership expansion’.

Thabet Musleh, Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer, Qatar Airway Group said: “At Qatar Duty Free, our ambition is to deliver excellence across our operations and continue to push boundaries as a leading retailer.

“Vanessa, Katie, Sonia, Joanne, Sarah and Ria bring a fantastic blend of expertise, experience, and energy to our senior leadership team. Together, they will help us to strengthen partnerships, inspire our amazing team of employees and elevate our signature experiencentricity for our customers.

“We pride ourselves on the calibre of our people. These new additions reflect our commitment to attracting top-tier talent and ensuring our business continues to grow and thrive. I look forward to the impact they will make as we embark on the next phase of our journey.”

Decades of experience

As Head of Strategy and Program, Lixiong Xian brings more than 15 years’ expertise in retail and programme management and is expected to play a critical role in assisting with strategic decision-making and the execution of key initiatives across QDF’s retail and F&B divisions.

Her responsibilities include overseeing programme management, driving operational efficiency, and fostering collaboration across teams to deliver impactful results.

Kiddle is tasked with developing innovative, data-driven strategies to strengthen customer engagement, loyalty and drive revenue growth, drawing on her extensive experience managing global loyalty programmes at the likes of Formula 1 and British Airways.

Imasdounian takes the reins of HR initiatives across QDF’s retail and hospitality Divisions, supporting talent development and employee engagement.

Her resume includes spells at Flutter International and Marriott International.

Morris will leverage 22 years of retail experience, including more than a decade of global travel retail expertise, to help expand QDF’s product portfolio and forge impactful partnerships to fortify the organisation’s market position.

She joins from her former role as a Global Account Manager for Whyte & Mackay and formerly worked for Beam Suntory, Harding and World Duty Free.

Di Carlo will be responsible for leading the luxury department at QDF, managing its formidable lineup of brands, maximising sales while ensuring exceptional service.

Most recently, she was Retail Director for Dolce & Gabbana Northern Europe, responsible for leading the growth and expansion of its luxury retail business.

Prior to that, she held roles within the LVMH group for 10 years working for Celine, Louis Vuitton and DKNY, as well as holding senior roles within other brands including Burberry, Dunhill and Nike.

Meanwhile, Chauhan brings 20 years’ experience in procurement and category management to the Head of Procurement position following a distinguished career at Marks & Spencer, Harvey Nichols, and the Chalhoub Group.

She will be responsible for enhancing QDF’s luxury beauty offerings.

QDF oversees more than 200 retail and dining outlets and has a workforce comprising in excess of 78 nationalities.

The travel retailer has tripled its headcount to more than 5,000 personnel in the past three years.

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