Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. announced the arrival of Mr Kikuhiko Okura, MBA (49) as President of both Okura Europe BV and Hotel Okura Amsterdam, as well as Corporate Advisor of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. Mr Okura will operate from the hotel chain’s property in Amsterdam.
Mr Okura brings extensive international experience from the finance sector in both the United States and Japan. His last assignment prior to joining Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. was Managing Director of Brown Brothers Harriman. He holds a Master Degree of Business Administration from Cornell University in New York and a Bachelor Degree in Law from Keio University in Tokyo.
In anticipation of the retirement of Mr Marcel P. van Aelst, Executive Vice Chairman of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., Japan and President and CEO of Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd. Japan, Mr Okura will work closely with Mr van Aelst to ensure that the Hotel Okura Group continues investing in international hospitality knowledge beyond Asian borders, while maintaining its integrity, highest service standards and its praised gastronomic offerings. Based in Amsterdam, Mr Okura will focus on further developing the global footprint of Okura Nikko Hotel Management through management contracts and/or equity positions, primarily but not limited to expansion opportunities in Europe.
Mr Michiel Roelfsema, General Manager of Hotel Okura Amsterdam states: “I feel privileged to support Mr Okura to familiarize him with the operational aspect of our industry. His in-depth experience in international finance and investment, combined with the Okura family history, offers the group a unique opportunity to further expand on a global level.” The roles and reporting lines of the management team of Hotel Okura Amsterdam will not change with the arrival of Mr Kikuhiko Okura.
