The CEO of Majid Al Futtaim’s Shopping Malls arm departed the company in November 2022, two months before former group CEO Alain Bejjani’s departure last week.
Shireen El Khatib had held the role of CEO of the retail giant’s shopping mall arm, but apparently left the company in November, ahead of Bejjani’s departure.
El Khatib has been replaced with an interim CEO as the company continues to shake up its leadership structure.
A Majid Al Futtaim spokesperson confirmed to Arabian Business El Khatib was no longer with the firm, stating:
“Shireen El Khatib no longer holds any official position in the organisation since November 2022. Vitor Nogueria was appointed as Acting CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Malls. Prior to this, Vitor was the Chief Operating Officer and played a key role in Shopping Malls’ strong performance.”
Under her leadership, Majid Al Futtaim had extensively expanded its shopping mall portfolio, with the giant now operating 29 malls across the Middle East and North Africa.
El Khatib had spent the last part of her tenure refocusing the company on the future of in-person shopping for a post-pandemic world.
Shopping malls are focusing on “augmenting customer experience across the assets, focusing on culture, leisure, entertainment, wellness, beauty, food and beverage,” she had previously said.
Alain Bejjani had been the CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding for eight years, but was replaced in what is the biggest shake-up in the organisation since the death of its founder Majid Al Futtaim over a year ago.
The region’s leading developers and owners of shopping malls, communities and retail and leisure business, Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) posted a short statement on their website late Friday announcing that Ahmed Galal Ismail, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim – Properties, is taking over from Beijani with immediate effect.
Bejjani has been a part of MAF’s senior management team since October 2006, and was named as CEO of the entire firm in February 2015 after holding multiple of roles in the company.
MAF owns and operates 29 shopping malls and 13 hotels across the Middle East, and more than 400 Carrefour hypermarkets and supermarkets, apart from VOX Cinema and leisure companies like SkiDubai and SkiEgypt.
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