The latest industry appointments – Asia
DEBORAH KERR has been appointed Chief Product and Technology Officer for Sabre. Formerly with Hewlett Packard and NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory, Ms Kerr will lead the travel technology company’s global software development. Most recently she worked in a similar role for Fair Isaac (FICO).
RICK SIMONSON has been announced as Sabre’s new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Simonson joins the travel technology company from Reardon Commerce, where he was President & CFO. Prior to that he spent nearly 10 years with Nokia, in several global roles.
SEAN FLYNN has been appointed as the new Executive Vice President of Brands for SilverNeedle Hospitality. Flynn has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is credited with building one of Asia’s most successful franchise concepts, as CEO of Brotziet International.
GERBEN BLOEMENDAAL has been appointed Country Manager for Trails of Indochina in Thailand. A Dutch national, Bloemendaal has 10 years of experience and has been working in Southeast Asia since 2006. He previously worked as General Manager for Asian Trails in Vietnam.
RICHARD MEHR has been announced as General Manager of the U Sunsuri Phuket, which will open on 1 April 2013. Mehr joins the Absolute Hotel Services property from the Banyan Resort & Golf in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin, where he also served as GM. He has 25 years of experience.
BARRY FLEISCHMANN has joined Best Western Australasia’s Brand Development team in Sydney. Fleischmann joins the team from the US where he worked for Choice Hotels, developing their Cambria Suites brand. He has 11 years’ experience in hotel brand development.
STEVE RICHARDS has been appointed General Manager of Sales & Marketing for Best Western Australasia, based in Sydney. He joins the hotel company from The Travel Corporation, where he spent four years with four brands – Contiki, Creative Holidays, Inspiring Journeys and AAT Kings.
URA RITTISRI has been announced as the Resident Manager at 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai, which is part of the SilverNeedle Collection. A Thai national, Ms Ura has 20 years of hotel experience in Thailand and Indonesia, mostly with Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide.
TEEKAY GOH has been appointed Resident Manager of the Parkroyal Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur. The move marks a promotion for Goh, who previously served as the property’s Director of Sales & Marketing. He has 15 years of experience including a spell with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts.
SIRIRAT VARAMALI has been appointed as the new PR & Marketing Communications Manager of the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel in Bangkok. A Thai national, Ms Sirirat has 10 years of PR experience, including spells with Amari, Novotel and the Grand Fourwings hotels in Bangkok.