Jumeirah makes swap at the top
Investment firm Dubai Holding has appointed a new CEO for its hotel division, Jumeirah Group, after the previous title holder stepped down.
Katerina Giannouka is taking over from José Silva following his five year tenure in the role.
Decades of experience
A recognised professional in the international hospitality industry, Giannouka will start at the Dubai-based group in December, with COO Thomas B. Meier acting as interim CEO in the meantime.
She joins Jumeirah Group with 20 years of experience in business leadership, operations, hotel development, asset management and strategic advisory.
Unprecedented growth delivery
Giannouka has been Asia-Pacific president at Radisson Hotel Group since 2017, where she led the execution of a comprehensive five-year strategic and operating plan, delivering unprecedented growth of nearly doubling the size of the hotel portfolio.
Prior to this, she led the Asia-Pacific and China development team of ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, where beyond delivering growth, she played an influential role in supporting new brand development, corporate decision making and strategic planning.
Exciting opportunities
She said: “I am honoured to be entrusted and appointed to this key role with Jumeirah Group. Jumeirah operates some of the world’s most iconic hotels and has redefined luxury hospitality with its exceptional and beyond-expectations service offering.
“The opportunities for Jumeirah are extremely exciting, and I eagerly look forward to commencing this new journey alongside the entire team to unlock the immense potential of the Jumeirah brand and sustainably secure its position on the world stage as the top luxury Emirati hospitality brand recognised and sought-after globally.”
Transformative business leader
Dubai Holding group CEO Amit Kaushal commented: “We are delighted to welcome Katerina as the new CEO of Jumeirah Group. Over the years, Given Katerina’s impressive track record as a transformative business leader, as well as her luxury hospitality background and drive to create resilient teams and culture, I am confident that she will build on Jumeirah’s incredible success story and lead the business to new levels of sustainable and accelerated growth across the world.”
Jumeirah Group operates a 6,500-key portfolio of 25 luxury properties across the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Upcoming additions across the Middle East and Asia Pacific include the 250-key Jumeirah Hangzhou by the end of this year; Jumeirah Hotel Marsa Al Arab in Dubai, slated to bring 386 rooms online in Q2 2023; and Jumeirah The Red Sea, adding 170 keys to Al Wajh in Saudi Arabia during Q2 2024.
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ABOUT THE CHAIN
Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hotel company and member of Dubai Holding, operates a world-class portfolio of hotels and resorts.
