Board of Directors
MR. THOYYIB MOHAMED
MANAGING DIRECTOR / BOARD DIRECTOR
Mr. Thoyyib was appointed by the President H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as the Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), the national tourism promotion board of Maldives, on 27th November 2018.
Having graduated from Bournemouth University U.K. in Masters in Broadcast and Film Management, he began his professional career at Television Maldives, offering a wealth of practical knowledge to the industry. He worked his way up from a television producer to the Assistant Director General of state owned tv channel.
In 2006, he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Villa Television (VTV), a leading private news network. His specific expertise in diverse media, managements and public relations roles earned him the position of Chairman of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation in 2009, while serving as the Minister of State for Tourism, Arts and Culture and Finance Executive under the tenure of President Mohamed Nasheed.
Other impressive feats of Mr. Thoyyib include his service as the President of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIDB). With his extensive set of knowledge and skills in management, Mr. Thoyyib has been capable of bringing together all key stakeholders in the mission to promote Maldives as the ultimate holiday destination. Collectively with the help of stakeholders and industry partners, his work saw Maldives welcome over 1.5 million tourists in 2019, a groundbreaking record arrival for Maldives.
He continues leading the Visit Maldives team through the COVID-19 pandemic to upkeep visibility of the brand and keep Maldives on top of the travel radar as one of the most dreamed about destinations through the recovery process.
MR. ABDULLA RASHEED
BOARD DIRECTOR
Abdulla Rasheed (Aisee) was appointed as a Board of Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation on 18th February 2019.
As a star student in the first batch of the national School of Hotel and Catering Services, Mr. Abdullah Rasheed joined the Tourism Industry in the year 1988, serving at executive levels; as manager of Fun Island and Ellaidhoo Tourist Resort. He is also a co- founder of the first local themed Restaurant in the Maldives, Haruge Café in Male’.
Having worked as one of the campaign managers for the pro-democracy parliamentary candidate Mohamed Nasheed in 1998, he is also popular as a key reformist and activist, who worked diligently organizing peaceful political activity, through the Maldivian Democratic Party. In 2010, Mr. Abdulla Rasheed was a key manager for a “One week Reunion” of RAFD servicemen and women who served in Gan when it was a British Stage Posting. He also had a role as a cultural consultant in Survivor South Africa reality TV series shot in Maldives in 2010.
Mr. Abdulla Rasheed’s involvement in the management, design and development of Dhoogas Hotel in Gan for the leaseholders, was a prideful landmark in his career. And during his tenure at Gan Island Retreat, he was a diligent manager of logistics accommodation and catering for delegates attending the SAARC summit held in Addu City in 2011.
Having done a series of over 56 radio programs and a few TV programs on differing aspects of guest-house tourism, Mr. Abdulla Rasheed is presently managing a model guest house, training Maldivians in Management and service provision, while providing consultancy and expertise in tourism.With over 30 years of experience in the Tourism Industry, Mr. Abdulla Rasheed has also published a “do-it-yourself” handbook covering all aspects of starting up and managing a guest house and a book titled “Guest House Viyafaari”.
MR. ABDULLA SUOOD
BOARD DIRECTOR
Abdulla Suood was appointed as a Board of Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation on 18th February 2019.
With over 25 years of experience in the Tourism Industry, Mr. Abdulla Suood currently works as a Managing Director in the Tour Operator, Sunny Escape Private Limited. He is also the President of Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators since December 2018 and a Board Member of Trust Fund of Ministry of Tourism.
He has also served the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators as a Vice President and Treasure as well.
He started his career as a guest relation officer at Full Moon Beach Resort (now as Sheraton) in 1992, working his way up to a managing director during this period, having worked in various resorts and offices.
In his career, he worked as a Front Office Manager in Machchafushi Island Resort (now as Centara Grand); Reservation Manager at Sun Travels and Tours Private Limited; General Manager at Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort and Olhuveli Beach Resort; Director of Sales at Sunny Maldives Private Limited and Director Sales and Marketing at Tropical Collections Maldives Pvt Ltd.
He has had various Internship Trainings in the areas of front office and Sale & Revenue and have attended major exhibitions in Europe and Asia
Being involved in the design, construction and development stage of Olhuveli Beach & Spa and the bidding process, construction and development stage of Vilu Reef Beach & Spa, Mr. Abdulla Suood is known for his management and leadership skills.
MR. ABDULLA NASHIZ MOHAMED
BOARD DIRECTOR
Abdulla Nashiz Mohamed was appointed as a Board of Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation on 11th March 2019.
A London College of Contemporary Arts graduate, with Masters in International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management, Mr Nashiz, currently works as the Chief Operating Officer at L.A Resorts Pvt Ltd, operating Alimatha Aquatic Resort, Dhiggiri Tourist Resort, Maayafushi Tourist Resorts and Aarahveli Lagoon Resorts.
He started his career in Human Resources in the year 1999, moving up the ladder General Manager in Alimatha Aquatic Resort. During this period, he worked as a Front office manager, Chief Cashier and a resort Assistant Manager. He has also served as a Front office manager in Dhonveli Beach & Spa.
With over 22 years of experience and extensive working life in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry, Mr. Nashiz brings with him a strong multinational culture and an excellent client facing and configuration skill. He is also known for his flexibility to work hard, and under pressure either as a part of a team or alone.
He is a capable, results oriented person with the experience of leading high-performance teams and of successfully increasing efficiency and productivity whilst reducing costs and efficiencies. He is known for his ability to keep a level head at all times, nurtures and grown a business, evaluate opportunities and risks and also deliver innovative new solutions to challenges.
MR. AHMED AFRAH
BOARD DIRECTOR
Ahmed Afrah was appointed as a Board of Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation on 7th July 2020.
He is a high caliber business graduate having over fourteen years of experience in a wide range of organizations, including a multinational firm, a start-up company, a non-profit organization and an international JV company. He has in depth knowledge of the Tourism Industry, especially the Liveaboard sector, of the Maldives.
Mr Afrah is an Executive Director of Canopus Maldives Pvt Ltd. The company owns and operates a liveaboard and has developed guesthouse and mixed-use commercial properties in Male, Hulhumale and Thulusdhoo. He is also the Managing Director of Canopus Retreats which is a company doing guesthouse business. In the past, Mr Afrah has also served as a Director in companies doing Dive Center Operating, Travel Agency Operation and Trading.
Mr. Afrah is one of the founding members of the National Boating Association of Maldives (NBAM) and also a current Executive Board Member of the association. In the past years, Mr. Afrah has held key roles within the association including fulfilling the President role for the term 2019 to 2021. NBAM is a non-profit association representing the boating industry of Maldives. In addition to NBAM and MMPRC, Mr Afrah is a Board Member of National Federation of Maldivian Employers (NFME) and has also served on the board of Privatization and Corporatization Board in 2013.
Mr Afrah holds a Master’s Degree in International Business from Monash University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Marketing from Edith Cowan University. He is also a winner of the President’s National Award for Special Achievement.