Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Executive hospitality leader with enterprise accountability for group operations, commercial execution, systems, technology, and development delivery, overseeing a ZAR 1.3+ billion annual hotel revenue portfolio across a multi-country hotel and lodge platform. Reporting directly to the CEO and operating as part of the core executive leadership alongside the CFO, Chief Development Officer, and Group HR Director. As Corporate Group Director of Operations & Business Systems at Newmark Hotels, I carry group-wide responsibility for performance, profitability, and execution across 30+ hotels, lodges, and resorts in Africa and the Indian Ocean. My mandate spans operations, enterprise systems, pre-openings and development, infrastructure and CapEx, and Group Culinary & F&B leadership. I lead senior executive teams across regions and functions, design operating models and governance frameworks, and ensure consistent delivery at scale. I am also a core member of the Commercial Executive, shaping brand strategy, commercial direction, and performance outcomes across the portfolio. I bring extensive senior leadership experience across Africa, the Indian Ocean, APAC, Europe, and North America, operating in diverse regulatory, cultural, and asset environments. My career is defined by building, fixing, and scaling complex hospitality platforms, delivering multiple hotel openings, turnarounds, and portfolio transformations with sustained improvements in margin, guest satisfaction, operational resilience, and owner returns.
Executive leadership role reporting directly to the CEO, with group-wide accountability for operations, culinary, systems, technology, and development delivery across a 30+ property portfolio & future pipeline spanning Africa and the Indian Ocean in 8 countries. Executive accountability for group operations and performance delivery across 30+ properties, 1,300+ rooms, and 1,500+ employees Enterprise accountability with direct line management of senior leadership roles, including three Regional Operations Managers, Director of Pre-Openings & Development, Director of Culinary, Group F&B Manager, and Group Operational Technology & Systems leadership Executive leadership role within the group Commercial Executive, with direct influence on brand strategy, commercial direction, and portfolio performance Ownership of operational models, governance frameworks, scalability, risk management, financial models, capex and asset management Direct engagement with executive leadership, owners, asset managers and board members
Executive leadership role with full P&L and operational accountability for a 349-room coastal hotel in Cape Town, comprising five dining outlets and conference facilities for up to 300 guests, leading a team of 285 employees. Full accountability for hotel strategy, financial performance, service delivery, and organizational development across Rooms, F&B, Events, and support services Delivered 20%+ revenue growth, 25%+ margin improvement, and a 21% ADR increase through disciplined commercial execution and operating model refinement Improved guest satisfaction from 84% to 90%+ through service standards, guest experience design, and tighter operational control Led a full organizational restructure, strengthening leadership capability, accountability, and cross-department execution, resulting in the hotel’s highest recorded staff engagement results Delivered major Capex program including 300-room renovation, main kitchen upgrade, and key restaurant refurbishment, while maintaining operational continuity Implemented a cloud-based PMS and supporting SOP framework to improve data visibility, operating agility, and performance management discipline
Executive leadership role spanning flagship hotel operations and group-level development delivery, with accountability for pre-openings, transitions, and major development projects across Africa and the Indian Ocean. Led the pre-opening and full operational launch of The Rockefeller Hotel & Residences, a 300-room luxury hotel with 93 residences, multiple dining outlets (including sky bar), extensive MICE facilities, and co-working spaces Held full P&L and operational accountability for the flagship property post-opening, ensuring operational stability, service standards, and performance delivery Oversaw the group development and expansion pipeline, managing the full project lifecycle from feasibility and HMAs through design, technical services, construction, pre-opening, and operational handover Successfully delivered four 5-star hotel openings and managed eight additional 4- and 5-star projects across Africa and the Indian Ocean Ensured all projects were delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with brand and operational standards, enabling smooth transition from development to live operations
Executive role representing operations across the full hotel development lifecycle, from investment and concept through design, construction, pre-opening, and successful handover into live operations. Operational lead embedded with Development & Investment, Design & Technical Services, and Project Management to ensure deliverability, brand compliance, and operational practicality from day one Provided operational design governance to optimise functionality, service flow, back-of-house efficiency, and guest experience outcomes Led and managed a global team of pre-opening project managers across multiple continents, coordinating parallel hotel openings and development timelines Oversaw the transition from Asset Management into Pre-Opening, ensuring clean handovers to on-property leadership teams and operational readiness at go-live Delivered three hotel openings across Europe and the USA, while supporting the development of 10+ additional properties Established the operational pre-opening framework and readiness standards supporting 22 future openings, improving consistency, repeatability, and on-time execution across the portfolio
General Manager role with full pre-opening and operational accountability for Four Elements Hotel Amsterdam, the world’s first Zero Energy Hotel (195 rooms), including restaurant and terrace dining, meeting venues, and a cocktail sky bar. Led successful opening and stabilisation of the property, embedding sustainability-led operating standards without compromising guest experience Achieved national recognition for energy performance, winning the 2019 EZK Award for most energy-efficient hotel in the Netherlands