Human Resources

💼 Pete Sams becomes President of Highgate, bringing over 30 years of hospitality leadership experience, previously serving as COO at Peregrine Hospitality. Highgate, aiming to expand in Europe, launched HG Portugal and relaunched Dorsett City London Hotel. The company also acquired Viceroy Hotels & Resorts and, with partners, purchased 18 hotels in Portugal. Mahmood Khimji, Co-Chairman, praises Sams for his operational expertise to accelerate growth and value delivery globally.

🍴 José Andrés Group appointed Sam Bakhshandehpour as CEO over a year ago. The group operates 45 restaurants and plans to expand in the Western U.S. and the Middle East, particularly in Arizona, Southern California, Nevada, Colorado, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Focus areas include the Bazaar meat concept, Zaytinya, and a new concept. Expansion will emphasize hotel partnerships and licensing the José Andrés name, targeting secondary markets near Las Vegas.

📅 Lucy takes the helm at ExecSpace with over 30 years in hospitality, aiming to create a 5-year growth plan. Collaborating with Emma Little, Lucy focuses on evolving the boutique venue sourcing service while integrating low-touch tech solutions. ExecSpace plans to expand into Life Sciences, Construction, and Energy sectors while navigating cost reductions in the Public Sector. The firm emphasizes sustainability and neurodiversity in events, aiming to enhance the client experience through strategic partnerships and innovation.

📈 Chetan Arjun has been appointed as CFO of RMS, a hospitality platform, to drive global growth. With 20+ years of financial expertise from roles at PwC, Coles Group, and Lux Group, he will focus on RMS’s financial strategy and support its vision as a top technology partner. RMS operates in 70 countries, serving over 7,000 properties. CEO Adam Seskis, appointed December 2024, highlights Chetan’s role in aligning financial and strategic goals. RMS expands with backing from Advent Partners.

🛂 Pedro Alves has been appointed as Senior Vice President at SITA, tasked with leading its Borders business through digital innovation. In 2024, Alves joined SITA to head global business development. He succeeds Jeremy Springall, who, since 2016, transformed SITA Borders, partnering with over 70 governments. In 2024, Springall led SITA to its largest deal ever. Alves brings experience from CGI, Vision-Box, and IDEMIA, focusing on secure, scalable, and people-centric border solutions.

🏨 easyHotel expands with the opening of easyHotel Marseille Euromed in November 2024. A new hotel will open in Ferney-Voltaire in 2027, aimed at providing affordable and eco-friendly accommodations near Geneva. Charley Le Peillet, an École Centrale de Lille graduate, joins as a leader with expertise in low-carbon construction. easyHotel's leadership strengthens with Karim Malak as CEO and Edward Jones as CFO, supporting its sustainable growth strategy in France and Belgium.

🏡 Gus Machado joins Lodgify as Chief Product and Design Officer, bringing over 20 years of experience from Intuit and Pipedrive. He previously led product development for the UK's Making Tax Digital initiative and doubled Pipedrive’s annual revenue by enhancing customer experience. Machado aims to advance Lodgify’s platform with AI-powered features, boosting host productivity. His appointment underscores Lodgify's commitment to transformative solutions in the vacation rental market.

🎭 Oak View Group (OVG) appointed Simon Hanna as Senior VP of Operations, leveraging 15+ years of leadership in global hospitality and events. Simon, previously COO at Freemans Event Partners, will work with Rebecca Kane Burton and Michalis Fragkiadakis to enhance fan experience and innovation in OVG’s venues, including those for Formula 1, Paris Olympics 2024, and Rome Ryder Cup 2023. OVG recently partnered with City Football Group and acquired Rhubarb Hospitality Collection in 2023.

Melbourne 25 June 2025 – Leading hospitality platform for hotels, motels, campgrounds, serviced apartments and short-term rentals RMS, has announced the appointment of Chetan Arjun as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as it…