Belmond, the hospitality and leisure company, has appointed Dan Ruff as the new CEO, effective July 1. Ruff has been Belmond’s COO since 2018.
Ruff will report directly to Stéphane Rinderknech, chairman and CEO of LVMH Hospitality Excellence. He will continue to be based in London, where he lives with his family.
“I’m truly honored to become CEO of this extraordinary company, with its passionate and genuine people and legendary properties. Together, we will continue to strive to offer incomparable travel experiences to our guests and become the world’s most desirable luxury travel brand,” Ruff said.
Ruff succeeds Roeland Vos, who has led the company for the last eight years. Vos will continue his position as chairman of the board of Belmond Ltd. and will provide support to the company on specific projects or advisory topics.
“I’m very pleased to hand over the reins of the company to Dan. I have known him for a very long time. He will provide continuity in the journey for excellence that Belmond is on whilst pushing boundaries. I am convinced that he will succeed in taking the team and the brand to the next level,” said Vos.
With 20 years of experience in the hospitality sector, Ruff has spearheaded Belmond’s strategic focus on operational, commercial and property excellence in the past five years.
Ruff began his career at Credit Suisse First Boston in the investment banking division. Before joining Belmond, Ruff held senior roles at Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham Hotel Group in operations, asset management and mergers and acquisitions. He also served on the supervisory board of Design Hotels AG.
Originally from New York, Ruff graduated from the College Scholar program at Cornell University.
Belmond is part of the leading luxury group, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Since acquiring the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has expanded its portfolio to include 50 properties in 24 countries. Belmond’s collection now comprises trains, river barges, safari lodges and hotels.
Some of Belmond’s iconic properties include Cap Juluca in Anguilla, Splendido in Portofino in Italy, Hotel das Cataratas inside Brazil’s Iguazu Nation and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train.