ODC to open Dubai office, appoints Paul Murray CEO Middle East

A leading distributor in duty free travel retail in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, ODC works with leading brands across the tobacco, beer, wine and spirits, confectionery, perfume and cosmetics categories, supplying various brands on board cruise ships.  

Murray will run the regional operations. 

‘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, ODC’s commercial director. 

‘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.’ 

Paul Murray

Murray, who joins the business next month, has more than 25 years’ experience working within the travel retail industry, most recently with 15 years in a senior management position at MMI in Dubai.

He remarked, ‘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.’

He said the company’s ‘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…’ 

He has experience in strategic planning, development and execution of airline and airport businesses in the Middle East – spanning full management of 30+ FMCG brand partnerships across multiple duty free shop operators, alcohol category management for airlines, airport lounges and F&B outlets.