IHG announces new appointments across the India, Middle East and Africa region

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced a number of appointments across its India, Middle East and Africa region.

Following the promotion of Pascal Gauvin (currently Vice President Operations, Near East & Africa), to the role of Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East and Africa, commencing 1 April, the company has confirmed the restructure of its sub-divisions and the new operations management team for the region:

• Chris Moloney, Vice President of Operations, South West Asia

• Ignace Bauwens, Vice President of Operations, UAE, Near East & Africa

• Bander Harbi, Vice President of Operations, KSA & Gulf.

Jan Smits, Chief Executive, Asia, Middle East ad Africa, IHG said, 'A strong, knowledgeable team has always been the driving force behind our achievements. With Pascal's upcoming move to Chief Operating Officer for India, Middle East and Africa, we've relooked at our operations structure to ensure we're set up for continued success. Making the most of our internal talent, we've realigned the operating divisions Chris, Ignace and Bander are responsible for. They are all first class operators who have come up through the hospitality industry, and together they make an incredibly experienced team to support us in driving our strategy forward."

An IHG veteran, Chris Moloney has over 30 years of hospitality experience, having worked in Europe, the USA, the Middle East and Asia. Most recently, Chris was Chief Executive Officer of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, a joint venture between IHG and ANA (All Nippon Airways). He was appointed Vice President, Operations, South West Asia, in March last year.

Ignace Bauwens joined IHG in February 2011 as Vice President, Operations, for the Gulf. Previously Ignace was an Area General Manager in Europe for Sofitel Luxury hotels and prior to that was SVP, Hotels and Hospitality division, for Dubai World Trade Centre LLC. Ignace has also worked for the Accor Group and has over 26 years experience in the hospitality industry.

Bander Harbi, currently, Vice President, Operations, KSA, joined IHG in 1995. A Saudi national, Bander has held a number of senior positions in his 15 years at IHG including General Manager at InterContinental Jeddah and InterContinental Makkah.

Bringing a wealth of industry experience to the Kingdom, he has also held posts at hotel companies in Europe and the USA.

Together, Bander, Ignace and Chris, have over 75 years experience in the hospitality industry and have worked for IHG for a total of 47 years.

The company has also made a number of other additions to the team, including Leanne Harwood, Regional Vice President of Commercial, India, Middle East and Africa and Emma Corcoran, Communications Director, India, Middle East and Africa.

Leanne, succeeds Karin Sheppard, who has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Asia, Middle East and Africa. Leanne has worked for IHG for seven years and prior to moving to Dubai held the dual-posts of Director Commercial for South East Asia and Regional Director Sales for Asia Australasia, based in Singapore.

Emma re-joins IHG from Hilton Worldwide, where she worked as Communications Director for Middle East and Africa. Prior to that Emma worked as IHG's Global Communications Director, based at their UK headquarters.

IHG has 110 hotels across India, Middle East and Africa, operating under the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites brands. The company has a further 96 hotels in the region's development pipeline which are due to open over the next three to five years.

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