Interviews of the Year II

TRI-POD: Maitreyi Karanth, Founder of Koma Karanth Foundation

Maitreyi Karanth, the human tour de force behind Women in Travel Retail+’s chosen charity for 2023, the Koma Karanth Foundation, was the special guest in a July episode of TRI-POD, The Moodie Davitt Report’s video podcast series in association with The SEVA Group. A further interview with Maitreyi appears here.

The pride, passion and perseverance of Toni Martello

Meet the remarkable Toni (Maria Antonietta) Martello, Founder and Executive Director at Azzurra One Enterprise, the much-respected, Sydney-based travel retail staffing, promotional and marketing services agency now celebrating its 41st anniversary. Full story here.

Sue Kyung Lee on the secret keys to SK-II’s success

On 28 July in Tokyo, Japanese premium skincare brand SK-II unveiled the ‘SK-II Secret Key House’, a multi-dimensional art exhibition that over a two-day period celebrated the brand’s exclusive ingredient Pitera and revealed some of its long-held secrets. Martin Moodie caught up there with SK-II’s visionary CEO Sue Kyung Lee. Full story here.

Morpho Travel Experience’s showcase for world-class destination retailing

In The Moodie Davitt Spotlight Series eZine in August, we profiled the fascinating, multi-layered story of Morpho Travel Experience. The dynamic Costa Rican company has developed a strong reputation as a creative, partnership-led destination travel retailer across airports, resorts and hotels in Latin America & Caribbean over the past 22 years, through its Rumbo, Casa Tica, Emprende and other brands. At the centre of our report was an interview with dynamic company CEO Adriana Echandi. The full interview and special eZine can be accessed here.

Vincent Boinay looks back on an incredible journey

In mid-September L’Oréal Groupe announced that General Manager for Travel Retail Worldwide Vincent Boinay, one of the channel’s most-respected executives, had been appointed President of the French beauty group’s North Asia Zone and Chief Executive Officer of L’Oréal China.

The appointment, effective from the end of January 2024, will see Boinay move to Shanghai and bring down the curtain on an outstanding eight-year tenure. Martin Moodie caught up with Boinay at L’Oréal Groupe headquarters in Paris for a final interview. Click here for more.

Pride in the past, positive about the future

As Dubai Duty Free celebrates its 40th year on 20 December, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin – the company’s pioneering influence – reflects on the journey with fondness in his trademark engaging, open and good-humoured style. This interview is the keynote feature in a special commemorative book published by The Moodie Davitt Report to mark the anniversary.

A final farewell to (and from) Mohit Lal

In October, Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail Chairman and CEO Mohit Lal bowed out of the role he occupied with great distinction for seven years to take a well-earned retirement. As his final TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes drew to a close, Lal spoke to Martin Moodie in a typically warm and insightful conversation about his years in travel retail, his thoughts on the channel and his (non) plans for the future. Full story here.