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By Hariharan U
Published on January 7, 2026
The First Group Hospitality, a full-service hotel management company headquartered in Dubai, has announced a series of senior leadership appointments to support its accelerating growth and international expansion. These newly created roles are designed to strengthen capabilities across commercial strategy, marketing, F&B, sales, and wellness operations.
Brendan McCormack assumes the role of Vice President – Business Development, Food & Beverage (F&B). McCormack, previously VP of Marketing and a member of the leadership team since 2020, will focus on scaling the company’s proprietary F&B brands, including Risen Café & Artisanal Bakery and The Blacksmith Bar & Eatery, through franchising and new business opportunities.
Robyn James-O’Connor joins as Senior Vice President – Marketing, overseeing brand, advertising, public relations, social and digital strategy, and development marketing. With a 20-year career at Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, including VP of Marketing for the group, she brings extensive expertise in brand-building and integrated marketing within luxury hospitality.
Antonio Bissoni steps in as Vice President – Commercial, leading revenue management, distribution, guest engagement, and commercial strategy. He joins from Marriott International, bringing a wealth of experience in optimising pricing, analytics, and market segmentation to maximise profitability.
Sohail Pedari, appointed Vice President – Sales, will oversee group-wide sales operations, leveraging his experience with Hilton, Marriott International, and Rocco Forte Hotels to drive strategic partnerships and revenue growth across multiple markets.
Maria Kuzeva joins as Corporate Director of Wellness & Spa, charged with driving a unified wellness vision across The First Group Hospitality’s expanding portfolio. With over 20 years of experience at top-tier resorts such as Madinat Jumeirah and Atlantis The Royal, she brings expertise in concept development, operations, and brand creation in wellness.
Commenting on the appointments, Apo Demirtas, Chief Strategy Officer, said, "It is a pleasure to welcome these talented leaders into their new roles. As our portfolio grows regionally and internationally, these positions strengthen our capabilities across key operational areas, ensuring we deliver long-term value for our owners and partners."
The appointments come amid significant growth, including landmark developments like Ciel Dubai Marina, the world’s tallest hotel, the Vignette Collection by IHG, franchise agreements with Marriott International and IHG, and the company’s entry into Europe with Gennadi Seaside Resort.
About The First Group HospitalityThe First Group Hospitality is a Dubai-based full-service hospitality management company specialising in hotel operations, asset management, and F&B strategy. The company partners with global brands to optimise revenue, enhance efficiency, and maximise asset value, while developing and operating upscale hotels, residences, and award-winning restaurants across the Middle East and internationally.
For more information, visit: tfghospitality.com
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on August 25, 2026
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore has announced two new appointments across key departments, welcoming Mohammad Sadiq as Quality Manager and Divyansh Khanna as Front Office Manager. The appointments strengthen the hotel’s focus on operational excellence and personalised guest experiences.
Mohammad Sadiq joins The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore with more than a decade of experience in luxury and lifestyle hospitality across India, Qatar and the Maldives. He has worked with leading brands including Leela, Marriott, Hyatt and Accor.
His experience includes roles with Marriott International Maldives, Park Hyatt Chennai, Accor Hotels Doha, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, and The Park Chennai, where he worked across quality assurance, pre-opening projects, operational audits and compliance programmes.
Known for his focus on continuous improvement, Sadiq has worked on strengthening quality processes and applying international standards to improve operations and guest experiences.
"I am delighted to join The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore and look forward to working alongside a talented team to further strengthen our quality culture and uphold the exceptional service standards that define the brand," says Mohammad Sadiq. "It is a privilege to be part of a hotel renowned for its commitment to excellence, and I look forward to contributing to memorable experiences for our guests."
In his new role, Sadiq will oversee the hotel’s quality management systems, internal audits and compliance programmes, while working with teams across the property to further strengthen service standards.
Divyansh Khanna brings more than a decade of luxury hospitality experience to his new position. His career includes experience with The Postcard Hotel, Trident Nariman Point, and The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development.
Having worked across housekeeping, duty management and front office leadership, Khanna has developed experience in hotel operations, guest engagement, team management and service delivery.
"I am delighted to join The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore and become part of a team that is recognised for its exceptional hospitality," says Divyansh Khanna. "I look forward to working closely with the team to create memorable first impressions for our guests while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement."
At The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, Khanna will lead the Front Office team and oversee guest arrivals and departures, concierge services, daily operations and team development. He will also work closely with other departments to ensure a seamless guest experience.
Speaking on both appointments, Reuben Kataria, General Manager, said,
“These strategic additions to our leadership team reflect our continued commitment to excellence across every aspect of the guest experience. As we continue to build a team with a high emotional quotient and further evolve our approach towards creating more meaningful and experiential stays, the appointment of leaders who embody these values is especially important. Mohammad's expertise in quality management and continuous improvement, combined with Divyansh's strong operational leadership and guest-centric approach, will further strengthen our ability to deliver the intuitive, personalised service that defines The Ritz-Carlton experience. We are delighted to welcome them both and look forward to the valuable contributions they will make to our hotel, our ladies and gentlemen, and our guests."
With the addition of Sadiq and Khanna, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore looks to further strengthen its leadership team while continuing to focus on quality, collaboration and personalised hospitality.
Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, The Savoy, Mussoorie has announced the appointment of Surender Singh as its new Food & Beverage Manager, strengthening the property's leadership team and focus on elevated dining and guest experiences.
In his new role, Singh will oversee the property's food and beverage operations, including its restaurants, bar, banqueting and in-room dining services. His responsibilities will include maintaining service standards, strengthening operational efficiency and enhancing the overall dining experience for guests.
Singh brings extensive hospitality experience to the role, having worked across leading hotel groups including ITC Hotels, The Leela, Accor, The Roseate Hotels and The LaLiT. His career spans multiple areas of food and beverage and hotel operations, giving him experience in service excellence, team leadership and guest-centric hospitality.
Commenting on his appointment, Surender Singh, Food & Beverage Manager, Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, The Savoy, Mussoorie, said, “I am delighted to join the Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, The Savoy, Mussoorie family. This iconic property has a rich legacy of hospitality, and I look forward to building on that heritage while delivering memorable food and beverage experiences to our guests.”
With his experience across established hospitality brands, Singh is expected to contribute to the continued development of the property's food and beverage operations while supporting consistent service delivery and memorable guest experiences.
Located in Mussoorie, The Savoy is a historic hill-station property under the ITC Hotels group. The hotel combines colonial-era heritage with contemporary hospitality, offering elegant accommodation, dining experiences and views of the Himalayan landscape.
Published on August 24, 2026
Ramee Group of Hotels has appointed Jacob Mojes Balla as General Manager – Sales, strengthening its commercial leadership as the group focuses on revenue growth, market expansion and the development of its growing hotel portfolio.
With over 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Jacob brings expertise across sales strategy, key account management and revenue generation. In his new role, he will lead the commercial sales strategy for Ramee Group's new, existing and upcoming properties.
Jacob has previously held senior sales positions with established hospitality and real estate brands. His professional experience spans hotels, restaurants and outdoor catering, giving him a broad understanding of customer requirements and diverse business segments.
His experience across different hospitality formats is expected to support Ramee Group's efforts to strengthen market relationships, expand its commercial reach and drive business growth across its portfolio.
As General Manager – Sales, Jacob will focus on developing sales strategies, strengthening key accounts and identifying opportunities to improve revenue performance across the group's properties.
The appointment comes as Ramee Group continues to expand its presence, with a focus on building a stronger commercial foundation across its existing and upcoming properties.
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