Veriu appoints new chief

SYDNEY-BASED Veriu Hotels has announced the appointment Zed Sanjana to the role of ceo, where he will be charged with growing its portfolio of 20 hotels in Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane.

Sanjana was most recently the chief executive officer at Quest Apartment Hotels, where in a seven-year period he oversaw the addition of 50 new hotel sites.

Before that he spent a decade in the corporate finance department with professional services company Ernst & Young.

“This is a significant appointment for the group at a time where we are experiencing substantial growth in both the Veriu and Punthill brands,” Veriu directors Rhys Williams and Alex Thorpe said in a statement.

“Zed will provide the strategic direction needed to consolidate our network and position the business for future growth,” they added.

Commenting on his own appointment, Sanjana said he was excited to spearhead the company’s expansion ambitions.

“I’ve admired the growth path of Veriu for some time, and with its recent acquisition of Punthill it is now uniquely positioned to take advantage of the significant opportunities for expansion that exist in the market,” he said.

The appointment also follows news that construction has commenced on the $45 million 144-room Veriu Green Square hotel ( TD 09 Aug), slated to open in late 2019.

The hotel operator is eyeing off growth opportunities for both its Veriu and Punthill brands nationally and in New Zealand.