Meet our Smart Leaders
Let us introduce you to our leadership team. Their immense support and trust is what makes us successful. Let us introduce you to our teams.
Mr. Afi Ahmed UPC
Chairman - Smart Travel Group
Fulfilling his dream to start his own venture on 12th June, 2015 he launched Smart Travel LLC, UAE. Based on dedication, hard work and innovative ideas the company now has 11 branches across UAE and India, with more than 100 well trained staff. He believes in creating opportunities for others to learn, adapt, grow in professional life. His team is trained to deliver services at affordable cost without compromising on quality.
Early in his career, Mr. Afi understood the power of automation and technology. To optimize cost, increase output he adapted and implemented automation to his business. He named his company Smart Travel because he feels UAE is a ‘Smart country’. He says, UAE symbolizes automation in every walk of life, be it Smart Police, Smart Gates at the airport, Smart Transportation and much more! ‘Be Smart, Be Happy’ is the way of life, says Mr. Afi.
Mr. Safeer Mahmood
Deputy General Manager - Smart Travel Group
Mr. Safeer Mahamood is someone who displayed leadership traits from the day he joined Smart Travel LLC. He was one of the first employee to join Smart Travel in 2015. Armed with a post graduate MBA degree from India, he was highly motivated to prove himself with Smart Travel LLC. He worked hard, rising through ranks to get promoted as Manager - Finance in 2018.
Mr. Safeer has a knack to identify business opportunities based on dynamic market conditions. He was instrumental in consolidating a flagship segment of the group – A2A visa packages in UAE. His negotiation skills helped the company’s bulk purchase from suppliers at cost effective rates.
During Covid, Smart Travel LLC operated close to 50 repatriation flights to India and GCC countries. Mr. Safeer showed exceptional skills coordinating and managing these flights. In 2021 he got elevated to Group Deputy General Manager. Currently Mr. Safeer is focused on setting up new business ventures and branches for the group in Saudi, India and UK.
Mr. Rajil Sudhakaran
Commercial Head GCC, India - Smart Travel Group
Mr. Sudhakaran has close to 30 years of experience in the field of Travel, Tourism and Aviation. He started his career with one of the 1st Private Airline (post liberalization) in India - East West Airline. Later to work with Lufthansa and Jetair Group, India.
After his stint with Aviation, he joined Riya Group, one of the largest B2B consolidator based in India with branches in many countries. Here he got valuable exposure to develop and manage offline & online modules of travel consolidation business.
Later Mr. Sudhakaran joined Satguru group, present in 65+ countries worldwide. He headed their business at Tanzania, UAE, Afghanistan and later as Regional head - Kenya and Nigeria. During his career Mr. Sudhakaran had the opportunity to introduce new business modules and online portals in various countries. His objective is to make Smart Travel LLC one of the most valued TMC in the region. Based on automation, trained manpower and innovation.
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