A destination marketing executive with over 15 years of experience across industries including sports, entertainment, events and publishing; Maria Gedeon is the previous Marketing Director of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment, the owner and operator of the MENA region’s most successful entertainment destinations.
Appointed to her role within Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas in 2016, Maria is responsible for driving business expansion in both existing and new territories across the region. Maria oversees the marketing and communications strategy, customer experience, sales, customer analytics, the social media centre of excellence, marketing promotions and design for VOX Cinemas, Ski Dubai, Magic Planet, Dreamscape, Yalla Bowling, iFLY Dubai, Little Explorers as well as the food and beverage portfolio.

Maria began her career in 2002 by founding and managing Select one of the most established staffing companies in the region. She moved to the UAE in 2006 to work on the World Future Energy Summit with Turret Media and was responsible for managing marketing and sponsorship for their consumer portfolio. Maria was then appointed as Director of Marketing and Communications at Zayed Sports City (a Mubadala subsidiary) where she was responsible for marketing the complex, customer experience, driving innovation, improving sales and increasing profit growth throughout the various segments of the business.

Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Visual Communication from the Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (alba) in Beirut. She is also a board member of the established Marketing Society Middle East Chapter and a frequent guest speaker at events and forums, imparting her expertise on topics related to marketing and the leisure, entertainment and cinema industry.

She is a proud working mom of two kids and is a huge proponent of healthy living. She was a former national ski champion and is an avid tennis player. She spends her spare time traveling, exercising and cooking.