Jumeirah Group welcomes Richard Hartman as a non-Executive Director on its Board. He assumes his new role on 25th February 2015. On the same date existing Jumeirah Board member Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, assumes the role of Vice Chairman of the Board. The Group also bids farewell to Sir David Michels who has served on the Board since 2007.
Richard Hartman has over 35 years’ experience in the hotel and restaurant industry. From 2008-2011 he was Chief Executive Officer of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels and has, since then, served on a number of boards. From 1999-2008 he held senior positions at InterContinental Hotels Group, where he was a Board Director from 2003-2007 and also Managing Director of InterContinental Hotels Group, Europe, Middle East and Africa with responsibility for 620 properties. He was previously President of ITT Sheraton North America from 1992-1998, having served as ITT Sheraton’s first President of Asia Pacific based in Hong Kong from 1984-1992. He built his early career within Sheraton in Hawaii and New Zealand from 1966 onwards.
Welcoming Richard Hartman to the Jumeirah Group, Board Chairman Stephen Murphy said: “We are delighted to have someone with the experience of Richard Hartman joining the Board at a time when Jumeirah Group is preparing for a significant expansion into new markets. The company has maintained a strong growth trajectory in terms of financial and operational performance and his knowledge of the market and management of other successful hotel brands will help steer the company towards continued success. I also wish to thank Sir David Michels on behalf of the board for his invaluable contribution to the governance of the company over many years together with his help and support for the Group’s success.”
After eight years on the Jumeirah Group Board, Sir David Michels is stepping down on 24th February 2015. Sir David was previously Group Chief Executive Officer of Hilton Group plc and is currently Deputy Chairman at Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Chairman of London and Capital, and of Michels & Taylor, President of the Institute of Hospitality, and of the Tourism Alliance, Member of the Advisory Board to CVC Capital Partners, Non-Executive Director of The Savoy, and of Miroma.
Reflecting on Sir David’s tenure on the Jumeirah Group Board, President and Group CEO Gerald Lawless said: “We have been immensely privileged to have had the benefit of Sir David’s wisdom and advice over the past eight years. He has helped guide the company through a period of significant growth and maintained a key focus on our financial performance over the years. We thank him for his immeasurable contribution and know his strategic input in the past will serve us long into the future.”
From 25th February onwards, the Board of Jumeirah Group consists of Stephen Murphy (Independent non-Executive Chairman), Ghaith Al Ghaith (Independent non-Executive Vice Chairman; Chief Executive Officer, flydubai); Fadel Al Ali (Executive Director; Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Holding), Gerald Lawless (President & Group Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group); and Richard Hartman (Independent non-Executive Director).
