dnata has officially announced the appointment of Marwan Essa as their new managing director for operations in Zanzibar.

Essa’s appointment enhances dnata’s leadership in one of East Africa’s emerging tourism and aviation hubs.

According to dnata’s regional CEO for airport operations in APAC and EMEA, Alexandra Doisneau: “Marwan’s journey within dnata demonstrates the strength of our internal talent pipeline. He brings a deep understanding of our operational standards and a clear focus on performance and partnership. We are confident he will continue to build on the strong foundations established in Zanzibar.”

Essa’s appointment is a testament to dnata’s commitment to nurturing Emirati talent and fostering an environment where high-performing leaders can advance into senior positions across international operations.

A Significant Milestone

In his new position, Essa is accountable for the business performance and growth of dnata Zanzibar, overseeing ground handling and cargo operations while ensuring service excellence for airlines and airport partners. Importantly, this marks the first time an Emirati has been appointed to lead one of dnata’s international airport operations.

Since joining in 2017, Essa has held various operational and performance roles in both the UAE and Zanzibar, gathering extensive experience in ground handling and airport operations. Recently, he served as the head of operations and acting managing director in East Africa, successfully navigating the business through a phase of growth and increased activity.