Mantra Group has appointed Stephen Hobson as its new Chief Financial Officer and will join the Group in mid-February 2017.
Hobson has more than 20 years senior financial management, commercial and operational experience, holding executive roles in well recognised global industries mainly in hospitality, tourism and travel sectors.
Most recently Hobson was CFO and Transformation Executive at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Australia.
Prior to that, he held senior roles at TAL Life, Qantas Airways and Lend Lease Corporation where his responsibilities included the design and implementation of strategic business and corporate finance transformation initiatives and programs across all business sectors delivering improved capabilities and processes to support ongoing growth.
From 2000 to 2011, Hobson held numerous Senior Global Executive Finance and Business Transformation roles at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) responsible for implementing global business transformation strategies including a global finance and shared services transformation program aligned with overall business objectives successfully improving operational processes driving revenue uplift as well as customer and cost optimisation.
Hobson holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from the University of Southern Queensland and a Master of Business Administration from Macquarie University. He is a member of CPA Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mantra Group CEO Bob East said: “I am delighted to welcome Stephen to the Mantra team. Stephen’s technical skills, experience and expertise particularly in the global hospitality and travel sectors are well suited to Mantra Group and I am certain Stephen will make a significant contribution to the Group.”
East thanked Kevan Funnell, Mantra Group’s Executive Director Finance, for his efforts in fulfilling the role of Acting CFO since August 2016.
“This demonstrates the expertise, capability and commitment of Kevan and the broader Mantra Group finance team,” he said.
Funnell will continue as Acting CFO until Stephen joins the Group.