AIMBRIDGE’S NEW CFO
Aimbridge Hospitality has announced William Davenport as the new CFO, effective July 8. He will join the executive leadership team and report directly to Craig S. Smith, CEO. Davenport will work with the senior leadership team, including Aimbridge’s recently appointed Chief Global Growth Officer Eric Jacobs and its new Chief Legal Officer Greg Moundas.
Davenport will be in charge of the company’s financial management and have direct responsibility for accounting, financial planning and analysis, compliance, tax, treasury and procurement. He will utilize over 30 years to help drive Aimbridge’s global expansion strategy, develop new core competencies, transform financial reporting systems and simplify processes to enhance the comprehensive services provided to the company’s owners, brand partners and vendors.
“As we build on our industry leadership and focus in on cultivating a collaborative, performance-driven culture, we plan to leverage William’s proven experience and leadership to strengthen our team and services,” Smith said. “His track record of establishing dynamic infrastructures, capabilities and systems will enhance our business model by creating speed, efficiencies and sustained property performance, leading to the outsized results for our owners and partners.”
Before his new role, Davenport served as CFO at Velvet Taco, a restaurant chain. Prior to that, he served as CFO at Topgolf for more than 10 years.
TIMBERS COMPANY NAMES COO
Timbers Company, the developer and operator of boutique luxury resorts and private residence clubs, has named Brian Corbett as COO. He will helm operational excellence and drive strategies to elevate the group’s guest and owner experiences.
Corbett will be in charge of all aspects of operational management, hospitality and real estate sales, marketing, partnerships and human resources. Additionally, he will be a key member of executive leadership, to help develop and execute initiatives like Andiamo, the brand’s latest platform created to streamline access for travel advisors to Timbers’ global hospitality portfolio, new residences joining Timbers Resorts’ collection of luxury vacation rentals as well as its sister brand, Soleil Hotels & Resorts.
Prior to his new role, Corbett served as chief commercial and sustainability officer at Atlantic Aviation. He has more than 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality and real estate.
JOE PETTIGREW JOINS EOS HOSPITALITY
EOS Hospitality has appointed Joe Pettigrew as chief commercial officer. Pettigrew will oversee the company’s commercial strategies on revenue, distribution and digital marketing to maximize efficiencies, increase profitability and accelerate growth portfolio-wide. With more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Pettigrew will offer strategic leadership, guidance and direction on all revenue management, distribution, e-commerce, sales and digital marketing initiatives.
“Joe Pettigrew is a seasoned and trusted leader who consistently delivers results, and we are proud to welcome him to our growing EOS Hospitality family,” said Simon Mais, CEO, EOS Hospitality. “Under Joe’s passionate leadership and counsel, EOS Hospitality will continue to thrive and excel into its next chapter of growth.”
In his most recent position, Pettigrew served as chief commercial officer in hotel asset management at Starwood Capital Group. Prior to that role, he was the senior vice president and chief commercial officer at YOTEL.
RACHEL MENG JOINS LUCKY FIND
Lucky Find Hospitality has appointed Rachel Meng as CFO and director of strategic assets. She will lead Lucky Find’s financial strategies and asset management, including for Hotel Herringbone, a new Lucky Find-owned and operated hotel in Waco, Texas.
With more than 15 years of experience in hospitality finance, accounting, mergers and acquisitions and real estate management, Meng joins from Pebblebrook Hotel Trust where she served as director of investments. During her nine-year tenure at Pebblebrook, she helped shape the hospitality investment landscape across the industry, contributing to the growth and success of the organization.
She also recently founded the Hotel Bambinee hospitality brand, a family-centric hotel concept to alleviate the stress of traveling with young kids.
APPOINTMENTS AT DUSIT INTERNATIONAL
Dusit International, the Thailand-based hotel and property development companies, has announced two appointments to lead hotel development efforts for Dusit Hotels and Resorts across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Rami Massoud has been named vice president of development (EMEA) and will be based in the company’s regional office in Dubai. An Egyptian national with more than 25 years of experience in hotel development, real estate investment and asset management. In his prior position, he served as the managing director of Hotel Assets Acquisition Consultants.
Pornpim Hiranpradit has joined the company as director of development (global). Based in Bangkok, she will spearhead Dusit’s development initiatives in the Asia Pacific region and support the company’s regional development offices globally.
Having worked for real estate brokerage and management firms in New York and hotel operations in Thailand, she was part of the development team for One Bangkok, the mixed-use development in Thailand, where she executed three hotels with more than 750 rooms while working for Frasers Property Holdings.
Massoud and Hiranpradit will work with Siradej Donavanik, vice president – development (global) to drive sustainable global expansion of Dusit’s properties and its several brands.
STONEBRIDGE COMPANIES NAMES CEO
Stonebridge Companies has named Rob Smith as president and CEO. Set to join in July, Smith will oversee the company’s operations, helm the development and execution of strategies and report to Stonebridge’s board of directors. He will be succeeding Navin Dimond, who founded Stonebridge in 1991 and will be promoted to the role of chairman upon Smith’s appointment.
“I am thrilled to lead the immensely talented Stonebridge team during this exciting time of growth and opportunity in our industry,” Smith said. “I look forward to working with Navin and the Stonebridge team to continue the company’s long history of innovation, operational excellence and consistent results as we strive to be the leader in hospitality among guests, team members, and clients.”
Smith’s career spans roughly 30 years and he has most recently served as division president for Aimbridge Hospitality. Prior to that, he spent roughly two decades in the Caribbean, where he held positions at several resort properties and served the island of Aruba as president and CEO of the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association and Aruba Convention Bureau. Currently, he serves on the AHLA Board of Directors, Marriott Rooms Advisory Board and the Westin Brand Advisory Board.
BLH ADDS TO LEADERSHIP TEAM
Bentley Legacy Holdings has announced two hirings to its senior leadership team. The new team members are:
- Matt Berge as the new president and COO. He brings 37 years of operational experience with brands as well as third-party operations. Berge joins from Aimbridge Hospitality, where he served as SVP of operations.
- Ginger Van Nest as the new senior vice president of commercial services. She will oversee sales, e-commerce and revenue management. With 15 years of experience in sales and commercial strategy roles at Aimbridge Hospitality, she served as a brand champion for Hyatt for more than eight years.
APPOINTMENTS AT ROSEWOOD SAO PAULO
Rosewood Sao Paulo has welcomed two key appointments to their team of associates:
- Gil Maia as hotel manager. Maia will lead the hotel’s daily operations and guest experiences. He has previously worked across Europe, China, Africa, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and now Brazil. He has served in management positions in brands and properties, including HG, Four Seasons and Sands Resorts Macao. Most recently, Maia opened and managed hospitality projects for JNcQUOI in Portugal.
- Enrico Gonzato as director of bars. Gonzato has experience in mixology and worked at luxury hotels, including Connaught’s, Dandealyan, The Stratford in London Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Zuma in Dubai. Prior to his new role, he was the head mixologist at Lobster Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel in Hong Kong.
NEW GMs
Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa has welcomed Diego Padula as general manager. Padula will spearhead the resort’s daily hotel operations, maintain quality standards and ensure guest satisfaction.
With more than 20 years of experience in opening and managing lifestyle hotels in Latin America, the Middle East and Europe, he most recently served as general manager of Soho House Mexico City and Mondrian Mexico City Condesa, where he spearheaded the openings of both brands’ inaugural properties in Latin America. Before this, he spent six years in the Middle East, contributing to the openings of the W Muscat in Oman and the W Dubai Mina Seyahi in the U.A.E.
The Westin San Francisco Airport and Aloft San Francisco Airport, two Millbrae hotels located close to the San Francisco International Airport, have appointed Christopher Holbrook as complex general manager. With more than 25 years of experience, Holbrook will lead the strategic direction of business initiatives and align effort with business partners for both properties.
Prior to his new role, Holbrook was hotel manager at the InterContinental Boston and general manager at the Hyatt Union Square New York and Hotel Adagio in San Francisco. Most recently, he was the general manager at the San Mateo Marriott San Francisco Airport for eight years.
MORE MOVES
Moxy Miami Wynwood has named Julio Grisales as director of sales. With a career spanning 17 years, Grisales will lead the hotel’s sales strategies.
The Logan Hotel has appointed Andrew Cifa as director of sales and marketing. With a two-decade-long career, Cifa has experience in multi-unit management and revenue optimization. Prior to his new position, he held leadership roles in the hospitality industry and led sales and marketing teams, driving top-line sakes growth, improved market share and implemented positioning strategies.
Gravity Haus, the adventure-lifestyle hospitality brand, has appointed Mike DeFrino to its board of directors. DeFrino brings years of experience in the hospitality and travel industries to the company. With more than four decades of experience, he has held various leadership positions at companies like IHG Hotels and Resorts, Ritz-Carlton and for the past 28 years at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, where he served as CEO.