IHG has added a number of new senior leaders across its operations and development divisions coinciding with the introduction of a new leadership structure.
In a bid to position the business for the future, IHG is expanding beyond a single head of operations with responsibility for more than 100 properties across all brands, to having three senior Directors of Operations who will be responsible for smaller, segmented portfolios.
Reporting to IHG Managing Director – Australasia and Pacific, Matt Tripolone, they will each be responsible for the end-to-end performance of their respective segments, Luxury and Lifestyle; Premium and Essentials; and Franchise.
Emma Hynes has taken up the role of Director of Operations – Australasia and Pacific for Premium and Essentials branded properties in the region, including Crowne Plaza, voco and Holiday Inn.
Hynes joined IHG in January and brings 15 years of leadership experience across large hotel estates including 10 years as Area or Regional General Manager for NSW and ACT at TFE Hotels.
Joel Gordon will commence the position of Director of Operations, Franchised, Australasia and Pacific on February 20. He will be later adding additional support to parts of its managed estate.
Throughout his 20+ years in the hotel industry, Gordon has gained valuable experience in operations, most recently as Regional General Manager for Crystalbrook Collection overseeing the opening and operations throughout Queensland.
James Young will be responsible for Luxury and Lifestyle operations, which includes the InterContinental, Kimpton, and Vignette brands across Australasia and the Pacific.
Young joins from WMC Group where he was Vice President Resource Planning and Development in Vietnam and is relocating to Sydney to take up the position. He has spent many years working overseas in countries across Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, primarily with IHG.
Sam Swaffield will serve as Director of Performance – JAPAC, supporting the three new directors by setting the strategy for performance.
With a strong focus on future growth, IHG is bolstering its team with the addition of several new leaders.
Cameron Burke joins IHG as Director, Development Australasia and Pacific, having commenced the role on February 13 from the company’s Sydney office.
Reporting to Tripolone, Burke will drive the execution of IHG’s portfolio growth strategy for the region.
Having started his career as a corporate lawyer, he spent a number of years advising hospitality companies throughout Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East region. He joined Choice Hotels in 2019 leading corporate development function for the Asia-Pacific.
Also based in the Sydney office, Malcolm Zancanaro commenced the role of Director, New Hotels Australasia and Pacific at the end of last year. He reports to Head of HLG – JAPAC, Simon Morley.
He brings more than 30 years’ experience in the hotel industry, most recently as General Manager of Grand Hyatt Beijing since 2021, where he led a $100 million renovation and hotel repositioning.
Also in the growth space, Isabella Ledden has taken up the position of Corporate Counsel, Australasia and Pacific. She reports to Head of Legal – JAPAC, Breanne Stratford.
“This major investment in senior leadership creates a world-class organisational structure that sets IHG, its hotels and its owners, up for the best success across every measure, with the right resourcing in the right places,” IHG said in a statement.