Ayesha Nurain Janah has been appointed as the new chairman of the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), the state-owned operator of Velana International Airport, the country’s main international gateway.
The appointment was confirmed by the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board (PCB) on Wednesday. Nurain takes over from tourism industry veteran Mohamed Umar Manik, widely known as MU Manik, who stepped down from the role earlier this year.
Prior to her appointment to MACL, she briefly held the chairmanship of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). She was appointed to that position on 27 December 2023 and resigned on 21 May 2024. In her resignation letter addressed to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, she cited serious concerns over mismanagement within the company.
Nurain is the daughter of Mohamed Ali Janah, who currently serves as the principal advisor on trade and investment at the ministerial level under the Muizzu administration.
A chartered accountant by profession, Nurain brings 10 years of experience in management. She also holds the position of vice chairman at her father’s company, Hotels & Resort Investment Maldives (HARIM).
