The head of global ports operator DP World has left the company after mounting pressure over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem's exit as chairman and chief executive comes after newly-released files revealed extensive communication between him and Epstein over more than a decade.
DP World announced his resignation, effective immediately, and appointed Essa Kazim to assume the role of chairman and Yuvraj Narayan as CEO.
Despite not being a clear indication of wrongdoing, the correspondence raised significant concerns. The eruption of scrutiny over Sulayem's association with Epstein coincided with recent announcements that leading partners, including the UK development finance agency and Canada’s La Caisse pension fund, halted new investments.
The Prince of Wales' Earthshot project, which previously received support from DP World, faced challenges following this exposure.
Documents analyzed suggested a close personal relationship between Sulayem and Epstein, characterized by sharing travel plans, business ideas, and personal communications. Among the redacted materials, US officials confirmed Sulayem received an email from Epstein mentioning a 'torture video'—contextually uncertain but further complicating Sulayem's public image.
Furthermore, Sulayem's emails to Epstein included a range of topics, from health advice for family members to social interactions with women, some of which were characterized by troubling language. Notably, he referred to women in potentially derogatory terms and expressed outdated views on nationality-based appearances.
Looking forward, DP World faces an uphill battle to maintain its reputation in the global trade landscape, navigating the complexities of investor confidence and public scrutiny stemming from this high-profile scandal.
