Interview: ARI’s Tom Byrne on elevating ambition around Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Leading travel retailer ARI is partnering with The Moodie Davitt Report in celebrating International Women’s Day (8 March) with a series of activities, including a makeover of our desktop homepage, along with an elegantly curated treatment of our mobile website. Here we feature the views of ARI Executive Sponsor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Tom Byrne; across our platforms we are also carrying interviews with prominent women from ARI’s global operations.

IRELAND. ARI Ireland Retail Director Tom Byrne was recently named as the travel retailer’s Executive Sponsor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), a role created as the company developed its DE&I strategy in 2021. In articulating its goals in this area ARI took on a leadership position within the industry, one that many of its peers have followed.

The key pillars of the strategy include:

• Demonstrating leadership commitment and accountability in DE&I
• Prioritising inclusivity
• Seeking better gender balance
• Building a diverse talent pipeline.

The strategic pillars chime with ARI’s strong focus on its people, including staff, partners and customers. And the retailer, says Byrne, is doubling down on its commitment to inclusion, equality and diversity today, even as these values are being challenged elsewhere (including at the highest levels of the US government).

“The approach comes from the top, both from our CEO Ray Hernan and daa CEO Kenny Jacobs, both of whom are absolutely steadfast in support of our DE&I mission,” says Byrne. “We lead by example and at ARI the culture is shaped from the top down.”

In an important signifier of the status of DE&I activities to the travel retailer, in Q1 this year senior leadership across all ARI business units completed mandatory training on topics including dignity and mutual respect and creating an inclusive workplace.

“We know that a proactive approach to DE&I is the right thing to do,” says Byrne. “Travel retail, by its nature, is diverse and that makes the industry so special. It is a melting pot of global cultures, and we continue to double down on our commitments to our people and to the industry.”

In the Executive Sponsor role, Byrne is tasked with ensuring that the strategy is brought to life throughout the business.

“I liaise with the DE&I champions both locally and globally, who play a key role in rolling out the strategy. They are helping me as I learn and understand how we can improve our efforts about what we have to do to make the strategy work and keep the momentum going.

“It is encouraging that there are a lot of passionate people who realise this is the right way to go about business. Our belief is that the more voices we listen to, the better it will make us,” says Byrne.

“We hold many ‘chat & connect’ gatherings in the company, hosted by Ray or by me, in which we listen to the diverse mix of people that we have working in the group and getting their feedback. That’s also about helping them understand that ARI globally is a safe space for them, in which they can be heard, feel valued and appreciated.”

Having a coherent strategy and aspirations are important, but action and progress are the true barometers of success. Here, Byrne points to tangible gains made in recent years, particularly on promoting women in the workforce.

In one critical area, the gender pay gap, the difference between men and women has decreased. “The median [wage difference] in 2024 was 10.3%, down from 13.1% a year earlier, which is progress, though clearly there is much more to do,” says Byrne.

“There has been a focus within the business on increasing female representation at senior level, and we are seeing that come into effect. An example of a positive initiative is that 40% of candidates at interview stage will be female. In other areas, there is a focus on supporting mothers returning to work after pregnancy.” [See panel for 2025 goals.]

Another aspect of promoting a positive and inclusive approach in a global corporation is being able to cut across nationalities and cultures. Here, Byrne says that ARI has always been focused on being effective in this area.

“It is not just about what we are doing; we are seeing societies embracing change. I know from my personal experience in Saudi Arabia, for example, how inclusivity has advanced in recent years, and that is mirrored elsewhere.

“There is an appreciation across the world that people should be who they are and want to be, and certainly for women to be and to feel empowered.”

Looking further ahead, progress will be measured by seeing further tangible results such as those noted above around female representation at senior level, reducing the pay gap ultimately to zero and more.

Byrne says: “We need to get more balance at senior levels. In 2024 we launched a Global Retail Leaders Programme, and it was great to see that out of 14 participants, there are seven strong women from across our estate who are adding so much value to it.”

This will be complemented by an Emerging Retail Leaders programme soon to launch across the business, where gender balance will also be a core component.

In a further signal of progress, at ARI’s annual Star Awards, which recognise excellence across the business, 60% of those shortlisted in 2025 are female.

“There are successes, but I am also absolutely realistic and know there is always more we can do. We are working towards a time where we don’t even have to have these conversations because DE&I is just normal and in our way of life.

“When we say we put people at the centre of everything we do, we absolutely mean it, and that guides us every day. My commitment is to talk to our internal champions locally and globally, stress test the strategy and find a pathway forward to achieve our goals.”

Click here to read our interview with ARI’s Kari Scantlebury on the power of mentorship and collaboration in driving gender equality

Click here to read our interview with Ahlan Duty Free’s Israa Othman on breaking barriers and driving inclusion at an organisational level

Click here to read our interview with Aisha Al Habsi on how actionable strategies are championing inclusivity at Muscat Duty Free

Click here to read our interview with ARI’s Claire Breathnach on how she is committing to being fearless in challenging workplace gender bias

Click here to read our interview with Portugal Duty Free’s Sarah Farrelly who discusses creating pathways for women to lead, innovate and thrive

*ARI is partnering with The Moodie Davitt Report in celebrating International Women’s Day with a makeover of our desktop homepage, along with an elegantly curated treatment of our mobile website. Click here for more.