Maurice Flanagan, CBE, first entered the aviation industry in 1953 when he joined BOAC, the forerunner of British Airways, as a graduate trainee. In 1978, he joined the Emirates Group as the director and general manager of Dnata.

He then became managing director when Emirates Airline began operations in 1985 and was appointed group managing director of the Emirates Group in 1990. Under his guidance, Emirates has gone from a startup airline with two borrowed aircraft to a global aviation powerhouse with more than 100 planes operating to all continents. Emirates Group has become a diversified travel and tourism conglomerate, with successful holiday, conference and hotel divisions.

Flanagan became vice chairman and group president in July 2003 and since 2006, he has served as executive vice chairman for Emirates Airline and Emirates Group. Under his leadership, Emirates Group has been one of the key players behind Dubai’s emergence as a top world tourism destination.