INSPIRING GREAT BLENDS

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OurTeam

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Jason Dixon
Jason Dixon Chief Executive Officer Jason Dixon took over as Group Chief Executive Officer of African + Eastern in 2019 after a prior track record with the company as A&E Group Wine Controller, UAE General Manager and Chief Commercial Officer. Before joining A&E, Jason Dixon worked in Bahrain as BMMI Retail Liquor Manager before moving to Abu Dhabi as GM Beverages for Spinney’s. Prior to this he worked for Asda Superstores in a variety of retail roles across the UK. Jason Dixon is passionate about service and is driven by the objective that African + Eastern consistently attain excellence in every facet of the customer and supplier experience. When not working Jason enjoys physical fitness, travel and spending time with his family.
S.R. Venkateswaran
S.R. Venkateswaran Chief Financial Officer Venky joined African + Eastern in 2006 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining African + Eastern, Venky was working with Unilever India as General Manager – Control Assurance and Corporate Governance. Joining Unilever as a Graduate Trainee, he has close to twenty five years of varied experience in Unilever. Venky’s career has encompassed a range of senior roles spanning Finance, Supply Chain, Management and Sales Commercial functions, among them Commercial Manager for the Culinary business & Processed Foods division and GM – Commercial - Systems Integration & Value re-engineering. Venky is an ardent follower of cricket. Venky graduated with a major in Commerce and holds a professional qualification in Cost Accountancy.
A.R. Salim
A.R. Salim Chief Commercial Officer – Non Domestic Markets Salim joined African + Eastern in 2000 as the Chief Information Officer with additional and subsequent responsibility for the Supply Chain Function and the Exports business.

His preceding role was as Regional Systems Manager for Inchcape Middle East, the parent company of MMI, where he joined as IT Manager in 1991. Salim also had a brief stint with GAC, at the start of his Middle East career. Before moving to Dubai, Salim worked with Unilever India for seven years in various roles, his last role being Systems Application Manager.

Salim did his MBA on completion of his graduate degree in Electronics Engineering. He is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor.  
Leya Joseph
Leya Joseph General Manager – Human Resources Leya joined African + Eastern in 2001. Prior to moving to Dubai, Leya was a Principal Consultant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, where her work involved Organisational Strategy, Change and Transformation, Leadership development and Rewards Strategy & Programmes. She started her career in Human Resources, with SRF Limited, a multi-business industrial and chemicals conglomerate. Leya holds a graduate degree in Chemistry and did her Post Graduation in Human Resource Management from XLRI. A born traveller, she enjoys journeys on roads less travelled. At home, when not with a book in her hand, she can be often found in her garden coaxing her plants to flourish.
Raul
Raul Simao Chief Marketing Officer Raul joined African + Eastern in July 2022 as Chief Marketing Officer. With over 27 years of experience, Raul worked with Heineken for the previous twelve years. His last role was as Country Manager for Colombia, providing commercial leadership & business strategy for the Heineken JV. In an exceptionally challenging market, Raul transformed the business model with significant improvement in business profitability as well as sustainability goals. Before joining Heineken, Raul worked with Unilever, Danone and Volkswagen Group in Marketing, Commercial and General Management roles. Fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French, Raul’s career has taken him across his native Portugal as well as UK, France, Mexico and Colombia. With a personal motto of #NothingByChance, Raul is passionate about immersing himself and his family into different habits and cultures. A big football fan, especially of the Portuguese national team, he enjoys physical training, cycling and whenever possible, horse riding. A relaxed pleasant evening will always include having friends around for a cold, crisp beer.
Hanzala Rangwala General Manager – Supply Chain Hanzala joined African + Eastern in March 2007 as Demand Planning Manager. Since then he has moved into multiple roles as Supply Chain Manager and then Group Supply Chain Manager responsible for complete supply chain at African + Eastern and Gulf beverages. Hanzala is now part of the senior management team as General Manager – Supply Chain across the group.

Hanzala’s previous role was as a Supply Chain consultant with Bristlecone International, based in Mumbai, carrying our Advance Supply Chain related projects for a range of Multinational clients in India. Prior to this, he worked with Praxair India and British Oxygen Company in various managerial positions within the Supply Chain function.

Hanzala has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical engineering and a Masters in Business Administration from INSEAD. An avid reader of management strategy and leadership and who has his interest in travelling, hiking and carrying out philanthropic work through his charitable organisation called ‘Zoya Charitable Trust’.
Hanzala Rangwala
Sean Hennessey
Sean Hennessey General Manager—UAE Retail & Oman Sean joined African + Eastern in 2001 as General Manager of the Oman business. In January 2019, Sean took over the management of the UAE Retail business. Sean’s previous role was with MMI as the Regional Retail Coordinator for the Middle East, with the additional responsibility of the Downstream Business for Bahrain MMI. He also held the role of Retail Liquor Manager for Bahrain MMI, from 1996, the role which brought him to the Middle East. Sean’s career started with Sainsbury’s in Retail Sales. Sean holds a Post graduate diploma in Management studies and is also a WSET certified trainer.
David Beattie
David Beattie General Manager - Sales, UAE On-Trade David joined African + Eastern in June 2009 as a Sales Manager for the Dubai On Trade. In April 2019, he was promoted as General Manager – Sales, UAE On Trade managing the Dubai, Northern Emirates and Abu Dhabi On Trade teams. In addition to providing operational and commercial leadership to the UAE On-Trade, David will lead the shaping of the UAE On-Trade Strategy.

Before moving to the UAE, David worked in various sales and marketing roles with Bacardi Brown Forman Brands Ltd and Coors Brewers Ltd UK. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies specializing in marketing and manufacturing and holds a Post-graduation Diploma in Management Studies.
Stuart Simpson
Stuart Simpson General Manager—Gulf and Emerging Markets Stuart (re)joined African + Eastern in 2017 as General Manager – Wholesale & Corporate Services. This is his second stint with the company, having previously worked as General Manager – Marketing from 2000 - 2010, managing the Marketing function as well as overseeing the development of the Dubai Retail and Duty Free Businesses. Stuart left A&E in 2010 to create the Special Licence Office in Abu Dhabi, a government entity formed within Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, to manage and develop the legislation around alcohol licensing and control within the Emirate. Before joining African + Eastern in 2000, he worked in various managerial roles within the Inchcape Group - Commercial Manager (MMI), Travel business and Liquor Manager, Gray Mackenzie Abu Dhabi, after beginning his tenure as On Trade Manager in 1992 with MMI. Stuart graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Heriot Watt University, focussing in Business Studies and Marketing.