FRHI Hotels and Resorts has appointed Australian Wayne Buckingham as Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific.
Buckingham was one of five key appointments announced yesterday by FRHI Hotels and Resorts (FRHI), the parent company of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Raffles Hotels and Resorts and Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts.
“Asia Pacific has seen an accelerated growth in recent years and we have added a group of dynamic senior executives who will lend their expertise and provide dedicated support to our regional portfolio,” said Jennifer Fox, President, International, FRHI and President, Fairmont Brand.
Also appointed were ; Foued El Mabrouk as vice president, operations, China; Tom Meyer as regional vice president, Asia Pacific and managing director, Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford; Shelley Perkins as vice president, human resources, Asia Pacific; and Julian Anthony as vice president, finance and business support, Asia Pacific.
“Wayne, Foued, Tom, Shelley and Julian are exemplary industry professionals and we are confident that they will be instrumental in driving our success as we continue to grow our presence in the Asia Pacific region,” Fox said.
Buckingham will be based in the company’s Singapore regional office and will oversee FRHI’s Asia Pacific portfolio of 23 hotels.
According to FRHI, he will play a “pivotal role in helping the company achieve its long-term objectives of growing its three distinctive hotel brands, maximizing performance and building long-term value for key industry partners and owners”.
In addition, Buckingham will continue to “identify strategic opportunities to leverage and bolster the group’s momentum in developing world-class hotels and unrivalled luxury resorts in key gateway cities in Asia Pacific”, the company said.
Buckingham has over 20 years of senior hospitality experience across Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Prior to his new appointment, Buckingham was the senior executive vice president for TCC Hotels Group, Thai Charoen Corporation, Bangkok, Thailand.
He has also held several senior executive appointments at Starwood Hotels and Resorts including regional vice president for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and managing director for Royal Orchid Sheraton, Bangkok.