Kreol Arakulath is the Executive Director at Kreol Group, a diversified consumer goods conglomerate operating across multiple categories from fashion to food, and across distribution channels including travel retail, modern trade and e-commerce. A second-generation entrepreneur born into the duty-free world, Kreol has experienced the industry from nearly every angle: distributor, retailer, brand owner, logistics partner, marketer, service provider, and investor.
In addition to being joint-venture partner of Avolta, the world’s largest travel retailer, Kreol Travel Retail manages a global portfolio of multi-category distribution and representation, specialized in servicing the channel with a differentiated offering.
Kreol brings the voice of a younger, internet-native generation to an industry often hesitant to evolve. His perspective blends deep respect for the legacy of travel retail with a drive for culturally relevant brand-building. He’s less interested in spoon feeding answers and more focused on whether the industry is asking the right questions in the first place.
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Romesh Bhoyroo is a civil engineer and senior aviation executive with over 30 years’ experience in airport strategy, development, and governance. He is currently Director of Strategy & Business Development at Airports Council International (ACI) Africa, where he leads the strategic orientation, programs, and services of the association, shaping policies and initiatives that strengthen the voice of African airports globally.
He also serves as Independent Non-Executive Director on the Supervisory Board of Uzbekistan Airports, contributing international expertise in corporate governance, strategic growth, and infrastructure modernization of the national airport network.
Previously, Romesh was Chief Executive Officer of Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd (AML), where he positioned the company among the top 10 financially sound corporations in Mauritius. Under his leadership, Mauritius Airport earned multiple Best Airport in Africa awards and completed major infrastructure developments. He also held board positions at Airport Terminal Operations Ltd, Airport of Rodrigues Ltd, and Mauritius Duty Free Paradise Ltd.
With academic foundations in civil engineering and business administration, and fluency in both English and French, Romesh continues to contribute to the sustainable growth and global integration of the aviation industry.
Martin holds a Master of Corporate Finance and Finance Engineering degree from Paris Dauphine University. After graduating, Martin started his career as an investment banker with ING Barings. He then joined Ernst & Young as an auditor.
After four years with EY, Martin joined JCDecaux, the leading outdoor advertising company in the world, as Merger & Acquisition analyst in Paris. Within his 14 16 years with JCDecaux, Martin has been promoted to various positions in the Paris headquarter from Director of Investor Relations to Director of Merger & Acquisitions and Business Development before being relocated to Dubai in January 2015 as the CEO for the Middle East.
In January 2020, Martin has been promoted to the position of CEO for the Middle East and Africa and currently runs JCDecaux’ operations in 25 countries from Dubai.
Loice Muforo is Sales Manager at Scent of Africa, a fine fragrance house based in Ghana. With more than 17 years of experience in the perfume industry, she brings extensive expertise in brand building and market development across the African continent.
Before joining Scent of Africa in August 2024, Loice served as Senior Sales Manager at a leading perfume distribution company, where she worked with an impressive portfolio of renowned brands including Puig, Coty, Chanel, Burberry, Clive Christian, Bvlgari, and Amouage. In that role, she successfully expanded brand visibility and strengthened market presence across diverse African regions.
Throughout her career, Loice has specialized in navigating the unique dynamics of the African fragrance market. She has traveled to more than 30 countries across the continent, forging strategic partnerships, driving growth initiatives, and delivering sustainable results for global luxury brands.
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Mudit Srivastava is the Chief Operating Officer at Cococart & Cafe, India’s leading retail platform for curated premium chocolates and gourmet experiences. With over 12 years of experience in the travel retail industry, Mudit brings a strong foundation in retail operations, consumer goods, and omnichannel strategy.
At Cococart, Mudit and his colleagues led the brand’s expansion to over 65 locations across India, establishing a solid distribution network and setting up scalable retail SOPs. Mudit has been instrumental in positioning Cococart as the largest premium confectionery retail and distribution platform in India.
Beginning his career as a Management Trainee at Flemingo Duty Free, Mudit has advanced through key commercial roles and currently also oversees the confectionery business for the India Subcontinent under Ospree and Flemingo Duty Free.
His expertise spans buying, merchandising, supply chain, business development, and growth strategy – playing an important role in enabling international chocolate brands to succeed in the Indian market.
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Claudio Ferreira was appointed VP, General Manager Global Travel Retail at Japan Tobacco International (JTI) in November 2022.
Based in Geneva, Claudio joined JTI in 2002 as Marketing Director for the Americas before taking on different roles in the Camel brand group. Later, he led Marketing & Sales in the Eastern Europe region, and from 2018, he successfully led JTI’s domestic operations in Brazil, before crossing over to the Global Travel Retail space.
Before joining JTI, Claudio held marketing leadership roles across various FMCG companies, bringing with him a wealth of global experience and cross-industry expertise gained from working in diverse markets around the world.
Renat Rozpravka is the Chief Executive Officer at Muscat Duty Free, a joint venture between Aer Rianta International Middle East (ARIME) and Oman Air. He brings over 15 years of global experience in retail and travel retail across multiple continents. Since joining the business in 2022, he has led a period of strong commercial growth and strategic renewal, driving double-digit performance, launching first-of-its-kind concepts across multiple categories, and enhancing the traveller experience through premium brand activations.
Renat’s international career spans Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania, with leadership roles at Marks & Spencer, DFS Group, and Dufry. His diverse portfolio includes operational responsibility across China, India, Australia, Sri Lanka, the UAE, and the UK, where he developed a reputation for blending strategic focus with frontline retail insight.
At the core of Renat’s leadership is a customer-first philosophy and a commitment to nurturing high-performing, empowered teams. He is passionate about curating experiences that elevate the travel retail proposition and creating enduring partnerships that benefit customers, brands, and airport stakeholders.
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A graduate of HEC Paris, Vincent joined the group in 1997 as Director of the Airports, Hotels and Motorways network at Relay France. Between 2000 and 2005 he was Sales Director at Relay France, then EVP in charge of Central and Northern Europe until 2007. He then took General Manager roles at SSP and St Gobain before returning to Lagardère Travel Retail as Regional COO for EMEA in 2011. In December 2017, he was made CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail France and COO for the UAE and KSA. In 2024, he added the supervision of Africa and the entire Middle East region to his role.
With over 25 years of international experience in trade negotiations, policy implementation, business development, and organizational management, Teddy Soobramanien brings a unique set of skills, perspectives, and leadership qualities to steer CBC into the future. Teddy has held several leading roles at the World Trade Organization (WTO); the United Nations (UN); the International Trade Centre (ITC); the Commonwealth; the UK Government; the African, Caribbean, and Pacific States – European Union (ACP-EU) TradeCom Facility; the private sector; and the Mauritius Mission to the UN in Geneva. He has successfully led many programs, including the Aid for Trade Hub and Spokes Program. He is widely published on topics related to small economies, the ACP, developing countries, and international trade issues relevant to Africa. He has also executed multiple private sector development projects for the TradeCom Facility. He holds a Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) from Robert Gordon University, United Kingdom; a BSc (Hons) Degree in Economics from the University of Mauritius; a Diploma in Trade Policy from the WTO; and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in International Trade Law at the University of Reading, UK.
Pooja Padmanabhan Bommidala is the Chief Executive Officer of BBM Travel Retail, one of the leading travel retail companies in the Indian subcontinent. With a strong entrepreneurial vision and deep domain expertise, she has played a pivotal role in expanding BBM’s footprint across major international airports and duty free zones in India.
Under her dynamic leadership, BBM Travel Retail has grown into a trusted name in the global travel retail space, representing iconic international brands and curating premium retail experiences for travellers. The company operates in high-traffic locations across the country and manages a portfolio spanning fashion, travel accessories, confectionery, tobacco products, spirits, and more.
Pooja is known for her strategic thinking, innovative approach to retail, and deep understanding of evolving consumer behaviour. Her ability to merge global trends with local insights has made her a respected voice in the Indian travel retail industry.
She holds a Master’s Degree in International Business and Entrepreneurship from the University of Glasgow and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Stella Maris College, Chennai. Beyond her business accomplishments, she is passionate about women’s leadership, cross-cultural collaboration, and promoting sustainable business growth in emerging markets.
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