INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Hospitality companies and brands are bolstering their leadership teams with personnel changes. Here’s more on the recent appointments:
Hyatt Appoints Director of Brand & Marketing for Miraval Resorts
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has appointed Dina Fenili Niekamp to director of brand & marketing, Miraval. In this position, Niekamp will be responsible for driving consumer awareness for the growing Miraval brand and spearheading the marketing and communications efforts for Miraval properties across the country, including its most recent opening Miraval Berkshires. Niekamp brings 14 years of hospitality experience to her new role, having most recently served as the director of sales and marketing at the Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago.
Marcus & Millichap Appoints Chief Financial Officer
Marcus & Millichap has appointed Steve DeGennaro to CFO. DeGennaro will succeed Marty Louie, CFO since 2010. Louie will remain with the company in the role of SVP of corporate initiatives, ensuring a seamless transition and contributing to the management and execution of the company’s various growth initiatives.
DeGennaro brings more than 25 years of financial and operational experience to the role. With a background in private and public company accounting and finance, he has held leadership positions throughout his career that include strategic planning, finance, capital raising and treasury along with extensive operating and acquisition experience. Prior to joining Marcus & Millichap, DeGennaro most recently served as EVP/CFO of InTouch Technologies, which was acquired by Teladoc Health Inc.
CGI Real Estate Investment Strategies Names First COO
CGI Real Estate Investment Strategies has named Kasia Mays as chief operating officer. Mays brings to CGI nearly two decades of experience in the four- and five-Diamond luxury sectors of the hospitality industry. Mays will lead the organization’s culture, brand, mission, vision and values as well as lead all marketing and public relations strategies, human resources, front office, IT and investor relations. In addition, she will oversee Bread and Salt Hospitality, an affiliate company of CGI that provides hospitality-style management services for the assets within its own portfolio and for third-party clients.
AAHOA Promotes Heather Carnes to Vice President of Marketing
AAHOA has promoted Heather Carnes to VP of marketing. Carnes will lead the department and join AAHOA’s Executive Leadership Team. Carnes brings more than a decade of leadership in trade association communications, marketing and publishing to the newly created position. Prior to joining AAHOA, Carnes worked for Red House B2B Marketing where she collaborated with global household name brands on their content marketing and strategy. Carnes also served in multiple roles including senior content strategist at Naylor Association Solutions. Carnes’ work at Naylor included managing AAHOA’s flagship publication, Today’s Hotelier. Throughout her work in publishing, Carnes became familiar with AAHOA, its mission and the priorities of the hospitality industry. In 2019, Carnes joined AAHOA’s staff as director of marketing.
MGE Makes Leadership Appointments as Brand Continues Growth Trajectory
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) has made two appointments to its leadership team. Effective immediately, David Martinelli will assume the role of chief marketing officer (CMO) and Judy Newman-Locke has been appointed VP of human resources management for MGE.
After more than 20 years of service to MGE’s flagship property, Mohegan Sun Connecticut, and serving as the property’s chief marketing officer, Martinelli will oversee a marketing team poised to introduce the Mohegan marketing and entertainment brand to new markets such as Las Vegas and Incheon South Korea and strengthen MGE’s brand awareness in existing locations. He began his career with Mohegan in 1999 and was promoted to financial planning & analysis manager. He worked with the WNBA Connecticut Sun team and Mohegan Sun Arena as business manager before being named VP of customer relationship management and eventually chief marketing officer.
Newman-Locke has joined the entertainment brand after several years of experience in global and domestic human resources management. She was the former senior director of global human resources at The Leading Hotels of the World Ltd. (LHW) and principal/owner of Grey Heron Partners. In her new role, Newman-Locke will provide strategic leadership in the development and implementation of global integrated people practices, systems and programs such as compensation, benefits, performance management, HRIS and leader/employee talent analytics.
The Castell Project Inc. Promotes Deborah L. Cox to Vice President
Officials of Castell Project Inc. have revealed that Deborah L. Cox has been promoted to vice president. Prior to joining the Castell Project, Cox was principal of Interacting Dynamics, a full-service consultancy focused on strategic and influencer marketing, corporate communication and merger integration. Previously, she was co-founder/principal of CoMass Group, an organization that designed and delivered programs to address issues of incivility and lateral violence within the healthcare community.
Hilton Grand Vacations Appoints Carlos Hernandez as SVP/Chief Accounting Officer
Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. has named Carlos Hernandez as SVP/chief accounting officer. Hernandez will oversee SEC reporting, global accounting operations and related internal controls and technical accounting matters. He has more than 25 years of global finance and accounting experience working with both public and private multinational organizations operating across various industries including hospitality. Prior to joining HGV, Hernandez served as CFO of Holistica Destinations Ltd., a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and ITM Group.
Hilton Appoints Chris Carr to Board of Directors
Hilton has appointed Chris Carr, chief operations officer of sweetgreen, to its board of directors, effective immediately. Carr will serve on the Nominating and ESG committee of the board. Carr joined sweetgreen in May 2020. Previously, he served in a variety of roles at Starbucks for 13 years. Most recently he spent three years as EVP, chief procurement officer, where he was responsible for enhancing the enterprise-wide, global strategic sourcing and supplier relationship capabilities.
