Read the latest roundup of hotel industry hires and promotions in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
Paul Lonergan
Lonergan has been named chief operating and asset management officer at Kempinski Hotels. He will oversee the company's efforts in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Americas and Asia-Pacific excluding China and Mongolia. He arrives after seven years at Dubai, where he was director of real estate and hospitality asset management. He remains in Dubai.
Sophie Elizabeth Clarke
Clarke has been appointed the director of sales and marketing at the 82-room Hassler Roma, which was built in 1883 and has been family owned since 1921. Clarke previously was director of sales and marketing at Corinthia Hotels’ Grand Hotel Astoria, and she has had roles at Radisson Hotel Group and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Óskar Vignisson
Vignisson has been appointed as general manager at the 77-room Black Sand Hotel, which is open on the southern coast of Iceland where it meets the Ölfusá River. The boutique hotel has rooms. For the previous three years, he has been general manager at the 106-room Exeter Hotel in the country’s capital, Reykjavík.
Shirley Kind
Kind has been named as global commercial director at hotel firm The Social Hub. She arrives from being director of sales and services at The Netherlands’ official state lottery, Nederlandse Loterij.
Charlie Ayers
Ayers has been named head of brand for hotel firm The Social Hub. He was previously brand leader for Under Armour and Speed.
Craig Jones
Jones was appointed finance director at Focus Hotels Management. He is a veteran at such firms, having worked at Principal Hotels, Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts and other major firms.
Ahmad Shaban Fernandez
Fernandez started at Minor Hotels as cluster general manager for hotels the 227-room NH Collection Dubai The Palm and 276-room Dukes The Palm Dubai Hotel. He was at IHG Hotels & Resorts for the last half a decade, first as regional director of commercial, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and then as general manager of the 249-room InterContinental Al Khobar, close to Damman, Saudi Arabia.
Konstantin Grimm
Grimm started in August as general manager of the InterContinental Manchester Deansgate. The 264-room hotel, currently the Manchester Deansgate, is due to change its name in 2027 but already is being managed by IHG Hotels & Resorts. Grimm has been with IHG since August 2022, firstly as hotel manager of the 270-room Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and then as general manager of the Voco St. David’s Cardiff in the Welsh capital.
Kristina Golik
Golik been promoted to a new role at A&O Hotels & Hostels of director of operations and integration. She has been at the German firm for a decade.
Stuart Cran
Cran has joined the 322-room Hilton Glasgow as general manager. He has been at Hilton since 2010, most recently in the same role at the 200-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dunblane Hydro.
Jess Counsell
Counsell has been appointed to the new role of general manager, Dedham, and will oversee three properties in Milsom Hotels & Restaurants’ home of Dedham, Essex, England: the Talbooth Restaurant, the Talbooth House & Spa and the flagship, 15-room Milsoms Hotel.
Geoff Hare
Hare has been appointed as general manager of the 23-room Milsoms Kesgrave Hall. For the last eight years, he was general manager of Milsoms in Dedham.