Madifushi Private Island appoints Ahmed Azzam as Director of Food & Beverage

Seasoned hospitality professional Ahmed Azzam has joined Madifushi Private Island as the Director of Food & Beverage, bringing with him nearly two decades of experience in delivering world-class dining experiences and leading high-performing F&B operations across luxury island resorts.

With over 19 years of experience in the Food and Beverage sector, Azzam has built a reputation for consistently elevating guest satisfaction, maximising profitability, and developing strong, service-driven teams. His recent appointment at Madifushi Private Island marks a strategic step in the resort’s continued commitment to luxurious excellence, with Azzam already making his mark in just few months by redefining service standards and enhancing operational effectiveness.

Ahmed Azzam’s professional journey is one of passion, perseverance, and continuous learning. Starting his career at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, he rose through the ranks from waiter to supervisor, gaining invaluable frontline experience. He later broadened his expertise through cross-exposure training with The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands and JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa, further enriching his understanding of ultra-luxury hospitality.

Before taking up his current role at Madifushi Private Island, Azzam served at Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa by Marriott International, where he led one of the brand’s most successful F&B departments in the Marriot Resorts of Maldives also while spearheading initiatives that resulted in the resort achieving the highest APEC Guest Voice satisfaction score for F&B in last quarter of 2024. Azzam also has earlier experience at Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives further established his credentials as a transformational leader. Over a span of nearly seven years, he drove enhancements in service quality, guest engagement, and revenue generation across six diverse F&B outlets. His strategic insight and operational discipline played a central role in elevating the resort’s culinary reputation within the competitive Maldivian hospitality landscape.

Academically, Azzam holds a Master of Business Administration from Asia e University, Malaysia (Class of 2025), and Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Maldives Business School. His academic achievements, coupled with the completion of the Marriott Kurimagu Future Leadership Program, have further strengthened his strategic and leadership capabilities in a rapidly evolving industry.

“We are delighted to welcome Azzam to the Madifushi family,” said Ali Shakir, Group General Manager of Madifushi Private Island. “His proven leadership, deep understanding of luxury dining, and passion for creating exceptional guest experiences align perfectly with our vision for Madifushi. In a very short time, Azzam has already brought a refreshing perspective to our F&B operations—elevating quality, inspiring our teams, and reinforcing our commitment to delivering world-class hospitality with a distinct Maldivian touch.”

With his appointment at Madifushi Private Island, Azzam is now leading the resort’s culinary vision into a new era—one defined by innovation, authentic experiences, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.