BIZ BUZZ: Emirates taps veteran for Manila post
When Emirates needed a new hand to lead one of its most important Southeast Asian markets, it turned to someone who has spent nearly two decades doing exactly that around the world.
Yesterday, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) flag carrier announced it has appointed Khalid Al Zarooni as its new country manager for the Philippines, replacing Saeed Miran.
Al Zarooni brings with him an extensive international career.
He previously served as commercial manager in Singapore before taking on area manager roles in Cyprus, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Morocco, Kuwait and Iraq. He also served as country manager for Greece and Albania, where he chaired the Association of Foreign Airlines in Greece.
Most recently, Al Zarooni served as Emirates’ vice president for Saudi Arabia.
Across those postings, he built expertise in commercial strategy, corporate sales, stakeholder engagement and government relations while leading multicultural teams across diverse international markets, Emirates said.
“The Philippines has long been one of Emirates’ key markets in Southeast Asia,” said Al Zarooni. “I look forward to working with our customers, travel trade partners and stakeholders to unlock new opportunities for growth and further strengthen Emirates’ position in the market.”
And if his schedule is any indication, he is wasting little time getting to work.
Even before Emirates publicly announced his appointment, the airline executive had already met over dinner with Philippine public and private-sector leaders, including Tourism Undersecretary Stanley Ng, himself a former airline executive with Philippine Airlines.
Also joining that gathering were Mynt chair and former Globe Telecom Inc. president and CEO Ernest Cu, as well as Presidential Special Envoy for Trade and Investments to the UAE Kathryna Yu-Pimentel.
Al Zarooni may have only just arrived, but he already seems to be hitting the ground running. And for a market as important as the Philippines, that is likely exactly what Emirates had in mind.
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