PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Hilton Beirut has recently opened its Downtown branch and appointed Issam Ajouz as its new general manager. He is an experienced corporate director with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry, has strong operational skills and is specialized in menu engineering, F&B and luxury goods.

Jannah Burj Al Sarab Hotel has announced the appointment of Richard Haddad as CEO. With more than 25 years of hospitality experience, including his most recent role as director of product development in Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Haddad previously held managerial positions across hotel groups in the Middle East.

Crowne Plaza Beirut has appointed Jamil Bakhos as its new general manager. Bakhos joined IHG in 1999 as a finance and business support manager. In 2013, he moved to Saudi Arabia to lead colleagues at the Holiday Inn Riyadh Olaya and now, having built up 18 years of experience, joins the Levant team.

Le Royal Hotel-beirut has appointed Cyril Mouawad as the property’s hotel manager. Prior to joining Le Royal, Mouawad was the general manager of Holiday Inn Kuwait Salmiya Hotel & Residences. He was previously hotel manager at Intercontinental Doha. He will be reporting to Nather Auchi, corporate VP, Le Royal Hotels & Resorts.

Kempinski Hotels has appointed Fabrice Ducry, a Swiss national, as the general manager of Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort. Ducry brings over 20 years of experience to his new role, having worked with several regional and global brands over the years, including The Ritz-carlton, Accor Hotels and Emaar Hospitality Group.

Yigit Sezgin has been made Accorhotels’ new chief commercial officer Middle East & Africa. Sezgin has lived and worked across eight international markets over the past 20 years, holding senior leadership roles with key multinational groups, including Ritz-carlton, Wilton International, Hilton Hotels and Radisson Hotel Group.

Intercontinental Regency Bahrain has appointed Philipp John Economou as the hotel’s new area general manager. Economou came to the Middle East as general manager of Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi, where he successfully improved the hotel’s overall performance to 10 out of 10 on Hotel Metrics 2014.

Gilbert Zeait has been made the new general manager of Gefinor Rotana’s property in Beirut. An industry veteran with a career spanning 18 years, Zeait has extensive knowledge and experience of running properties across leading hotel brand chains in the region. Most recently, he held the position of area general manager in Riyadh, overseeing five properties.