DP World Replaces Chairman, CEO After Epstein Email Disclosures

DUBAI: Dubai’s global ports and logistics giant DP World has replaced its long-time chairman and chief executive after the name of Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem appeared in newly released emails linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, triggering heightened attention from international investors.

Bin Sulayem, who led DP World for years, was replaced on Friday by Essa Kazim as chairman of the board and Yuvraj Narayan as group chief executive officer, according to a statement issued through the Dubai government’s media office. The announcement did not directly mention bin Sulayem.

His name appeared more than 9,400 times in documents released by the US Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The files include years of correspondence between bin Sulayem and Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died by suicide in a US prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Some emails referenced personal interactions and intimate matters, though none of the publicly available documents allege criminal wrongdoing by bin Sulayem.

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The leadership change comes as financial partners increased pressure on the company. Canada’s La Caisse pension fund and the British development finance institution British International Investment said earlier this week they would suspend future investments in DP World until concerns surrounding the disclosures were addressed.

DP World is among the world’s largest port operators, managing major container terminals including Jebel Ali in Dubai, and operating in more than 80 countries. The firm remains a central pillar of the United Arab Emirates’ trade and logistics sector.

Bin Sulayem had been at the helm of DP World and related state-linked entities for decades, overseeing its expansion into a global logistics powerhouse. His departure marks one of the latest high-profile repercussions from the ongoing release of Epstein-related documents.

In its statement, DP World said the leadership appointments were intended to strengthen governance and support the company’s long-term growth strategy, without detailing the reasons behind the changes.

Narayan, a veteran executive with nearly two decades at DP World, and Kazim, a senior Emirati financial figure, are expected to guide the company through the reputational and business challenges arising from the recent disclosures.