Ramesh Cidambi is the Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Duty Free (DDF) and is responsible for all aspects of the company’s operation and reporting to the Executive Vice Chairman & CEO. His responsibilities include both the retail and leisure business of DDF. Prior to his promotion to his current role, Ramesh held a variety of senior positions in the company with responsibility for areas such as Information Technology, Logistics, and retail development in both Dubai Airport’s covering over 38,000 square metres of retail space and the DDF Leisure business through the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and Irish Village Bar and Restaurant (in two locations). He has been with DDF for over 30 years, during which time it has grown to be one of the world’s largest airport retailers in a single location with sales of US$2.029 billion in 2019. He also maintains his links with the domestic retail market through the chairmanship of a Merchants Advisory Board and as a Board member of Dubai’s Retail Business Group. His primary leisure interests are sailing (with his wife Alpana) and the practice of Iyengar Yoga.