Accor has named a new chief development officer for the India, Middle East Africa and Turkey region, while Virgin Hotels, Atrium Hospitality and CBRE have made new appointments.
Laure Morvan appointed CDO at Accor India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey
Accor, which has more than 420 hotels across India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, has appointed Laure Morvan as chief development officer (CDO) to lead the development team in the region.
She brings almost 20 years of experience and expertise in hotel development, marketing and project management in Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific. She relocated to Singapore in 2012 to drive the development efforts across Asia-Pacific in the luxury and premium segments, leading up to her latest role as VP, development luxury hotels Asia-Pacific, which saw her driving the relationship on some notable projects including Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, Raffles at Galaxy Macau, Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel & Serviced Residences, SO Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Residences and Sofitel Singapore City Center.
She previously spent eight years in the Middle East, where she had the opportunity to explore and build strong relationships with key owners, and contributed greatly to the development of the group through the signing and opening of projects across various segments including landmark properties such as the Sofitel Dubai Downtown and Alwadi Hotel Doha—MGallery, according to the company.
Virgin Hotels names new VP, technology
Virgin Hotels has appointed Jason Doebrich VP, technology. Based in Miami, he is responsible for the brand’s continued growth and innovation in the technology space. He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in information technology services, including executive management, compliance, system architecture and project management.
Prior to Virgin Hotels, Doebrich served 12 years as director, information technology and telecommunications for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. In the last year of his tenure, he served as corporate director, information technology and telecommunications for brand’s Americas region, which included six hotels over three continents. Before his 13 years with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Doebrich oversaw technology for Morgan’s Hotel Group, where he served as regional director, technology.
Anneliesse Cooper joins Atrium Hospitality as SVP, human resources
Anneliesse Cooper has joined Atrium Hospitality to serve as SVP, human resources. She is responsible for supporting all of the company’s associates within the Atrium-managed hotel portfolio across the U.S.
Cooper reports to Rob Mangiarelli, EVP/COO, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Atrium’s national hotel portfolio and for overseeing the area of human resources.
Cooper brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience to Atrium. Most recently, she served as VP, human resources at Marriott International, supporting the company’s Caribbean & Latin America Region. During her eight years with Marriott, she also served as area director, human resources for the Eastern region. Her career also includes nearly 13 years with White Lodging Services, where she led talent acquisition for six years, transitioned to area director for 10 business units, and finally served as corporate director, human resources.
Ananth Ramchandran joins CBRE
CBRE has named Ananth Ramchandran head of advisory & strategic transactions, hotels & hospitality, Asia.
Based in Singapore, he leads CBRE’s hotel advisory business which includes advising owners and operators on the growing branded residential segment. He will be responsible for driving the strategic hotel and hospitality transaction business that includes portfolio sales, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships and capital transactional services for both debt and equity.
He joins from IHG Hotels & Resorts, where he served as VP, capital investments & transactions and global head, branded residential. He drove the company’s investment and asset management business in Asia-Pacific and played a leading role in the acquisitions of the Regent and Six Senses brands, according to CBRE.