In brief
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the CEO of DP World, has resigned following revelations of his extensive correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This decision comes amidst growing pressure from business partners, leading to suspended investments and scrutiny of DP World's associations. Although being named in the Epstein files does not imply wrongdoing, the fallout from the emails has raised significant concerns about Sulayem’s leadership and its impact on the logistics giant.
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 showed the Emirati mogul appears to have exchanged hundreds of emails with Epstein over a decade.Being mentioned in the files is not a sign of any wrongdoing, and the BBC has approached Sulayem for a comment. DP World announced his resignation, effective immediately, on Friday, naming Essa Kazim as chairman and Yuvraj Narayan as chief executive. A photograph of Sulayem appeared to have been removed from its website.DP World, the Dubai-owned logistics giant that runs port terminals across six continents and plays a significant role in global trade infrastructure, has come under increasing pressure over recent days from businesses it works with. Earlier this week, the UK development finance agency and Canada's second-largest pension fund La Caisse said they were suspending new investment into the firm.Reports emerged that the Prince of Wales' Earthshot project, which received funding from DP World, was reported to the UK Charity Commission after Sulayem appeared in the Epstein files. The documents reveal what appears to have been a close and wide-ranging relationship between one of the Gulf's most influential business figures and Epstein.Sulayem was accused by two US lawmakers, Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, of being one of six powerful men who were associated with the disgraced financier. Earlier correspondence uncovered by the BBC shows that Sulayem was in contact with Epstein as far back as 2007, regularly exchanging travel plans, business ideas, and personal messages.These exchanges included discussions about women, with Sulayem once disparaging a woman’s attractiveness while praising another. An email chain also suggests that he arranged for Epstein's private masseuse to receive training in Turkey.Notably, the documents show that Epstein had facilitated introductions for Sulayem with high-profile individuals in politics and business, including the former Prime Minister of Israel and notable advisers to Donald Trump. This chapter has raised questions regarding possible implications of Sulayem's connections to Epstein and the influence they exerted over his professional dealings.In light of these recent events, Lord Mandelson was also contacted by Epstein on Sulayem's behalf during his efforts to secure a deal with the UK government for DP World’s operations at the London Gateway port. While there is no suggestion of wrongdoing on Mandelson's part, it highlights the complexities surrounding Sulayem's relationships and the potential repercussions for DP World.
