Global boutique hotel brand, Standard International, has elevated members of its executive team, naming Amber Asher as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Asher moves into the role held for the past eight years by Amar Lalvani, who in turn has been appointed as Executive Chairman. The internal promotion for the pair comes following a highly successful decade working together at Standard International, during which time the company has acquired or invested in the Bunkhouse and Peri Hotels brands while growing Standard Hotels to 17 locations worldwide.
As CEO, Asher will now be directly responsible for all aspects of the business.
Following the change, Lalvani will remain active as a Director, engaged in strategic expansion projects, developer relationships and brand innovation. Srettha Thavisin will remain in place as Standard International’s Chairman of the Board.
First joining Standard International in 2011 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Asher assisted in the set-up of the new corporate hierarchy, facilitating the majority sale of Standard Hotels to Standard International as a new holding entity. She has also overseen legal elements concerning all new hotel signings and developments along with investments and venture capitalisation.
Lalvani said he was thrilled to be passing the CEO torch to his longstanding colleague Amber Asher.
“We have worked closely together for over a decade and she has been highly instrumental and effective at growing the company and overseeing our expanding global footprint and talented teams,” he said.
“I have the utmost confidence in her ability to lead the organisation into this exciting phase of global growth.”
The Standard brand is in the midst of a major global expansion, moving into the Asia region with openings in Thailand and Singapore. Further growth in Europe will see the brand arrive in Lisbon, Dublin and Brussels. Earlier this year, the brand also announced its pending arrival in Australia with The Standard Fitzroy added to the pipeline for opening in 2023.