At ESL, we care about the human touch. Beyond shipping, we simplify trade, foster relationships, and empower communities. In over 30 markets worldwide, our dedicated teams keep things moving. Find out more about us at emiratesline.com
Role Purpose
The Chief Trade Officer (CTO) is responsible for the performance, strategic development, and long-term competitiveness of ESL’s global trade portfolio. The role holds full end-to-end P&L accountability across all trades, including pricing governance, portfolio optimization, and disciplined commercial execution.
As a key member of the executive team, the CTO partners closely with the CEO and Head of Network to align commercial strategy and capacity deployment, while serving as a driving force in advancing ESL’s growth and modernization agenda.
Key Responsibilities
1. P&L Ownership & Commercial Governance
- Own full trade P&L performance across all corridors and services.
- Hold full authority over pricing strategy and yield management; ensure disciplined commercial execution.
- Drive margin improvement through proactive performance management and corrective action.
2. Capacity Deployment & Portfolio Optimization
- Collaborate with the CEO and Head of Network on strategic capacity allocation.
- Continuously optimize the trade portfolio to enhance returns and resilience
3. Strategic Growth & Opportunity Execution
- Identify, evaluate, and execute new trade opportunities, partnerships, and growth platforms.
- Translate strategic ideas into structured business cases and operational execution.
4. Modernization & Capability Building
- Modernize the Trade function to operate with 2030-level rigor — data-driven, analytical, and scalable.
- Strengthen processes, systems, and scenario planning to reduce reliance on manual and reactive practices.
- Build and lead a high-performing trade organization with full hiring and performance authority.
5. Enterprise Leadership & Forward Momentum
- Bring new ideas and forward-looking perspectives to the leadership team.
- Act as a driving force within the company — challenging the status quo and accelerating progress.
- Contribute to enterprise-wide strategy and performance.
Success Measures
- Improved structural profitability and portfolio resilience.
- Clear pricing discipline and optimized capacity deployment.
- Successful execution of at least one impactful growth initiative per year.
- A modern, high-performing Trade function requiring minimal CEO intervention.
- Drive enterprise strategy and bring new perspectives that challenge the CEO and leadership team