Highly regarded former Diageo Global Travel executive Roger Jackson has been appointed as Managing Director for Organico Solutions, part of the SEVA Group owned by Severino Pušić.
Jackson will combine his existing Middle East-based luggage and travel retail business into the Seva Group from 1 September. The move represents a great partnership offering broader brand and geographical coverage for both parties, he said.
Jackson is currently the official travel retail distributor across the Middle East & Africa region for the world’s leading for luggage player Samsonite, including its US brand American Tourister. He has a wealth of travel retail experience, largely generated at global drinks giant Diageo, where he spent over 13 years.
From August 2016 to January 2019 he was General Manager Europe, Middle East & India, reporting directly to Dayalan Nayager, the-then Managing Director of Diageo Global Travel. Before that he was Global Customer Director, based out of London.
Jackson was an intrinsic part of the Johnnie Walker success story in duty free. According to IWSR, the world’s number one spirit brand significantly extended its market leadership position over the past two years, with enhanced customer relationships playing a key role.
Jackson is a passionate advocate of travel retail. He has been closely with Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association MEADFA and with the UK Travel Retail Forum.
Jackson said: “I am excited to join a business with such a strong reputation in travel retail. From the moment I started talking to about the opportunity, I could see the passion, drive and capability that the group has to deliver its customer service, brand development and retail execution ambitions.
“The move means both businesses can continue to thrive as well as giving both parties access to new categories and extended geographical coverage; all of course, with the Seva Group signature of service excellence.”
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Pušić added: “This is an important partnership for our business in one of our key regions. Roger brings a wealth of leadership experience from brands with strong performance track records in Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. I am delighted to welcome him to our business and the Seva Group leadership team as we continue to accelerate our business in travel retail.”
Samsonite Middle East CEO Syed Shaheen Jamil was equally welcoming of the partnership. “We are delighted to be now working with Organico Solutions and the Seva Group and look forward to continuing the great work that we have already started throughout the region. Travel retail is a priority area for our brands and we are excited to strengthen our capability and in turn delight passengers with superb experiences throughout their journeys.”
Comment: This is a powerful appointment and an equally powerful statement of intent by Severino Pušić, founder the fast-expanding travel retail distribution group that now includes operations in Panama’s Colón Zone, to service Latin America; Sydney, Australia; the Dubai Free Zone; its Dutch headquarters and a state-of-the art warehouse and distribution centre in Ploče, Croatia, which services global accounts. Seva Group also opened its first duty free store last year – in Metković, less than 200 metres from the Croatian road crossing into Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Jackson is much respected within both the travel retail and drinks sectors and his appointment underlines how far Seva Group has come in a few years to be a major distribution force across both domestic and duty free channels. His expertise, now extended to the burgeoning luggage sector, seems sure to accelerate that growth.