Dubai Holding names Lawless Jumeirah Group CEO

Arabian Business staff writer, August 15th, 2012

Dubai Holding has named Jumeirah Group executive chairman Gerald Lawless as the hospitality firm’s new CEO and president as part of a wider board reshuffle.

A statement issue by Dubai Holding, the conglomerate owned by the emirate’s ruler, said the appointment would provide Lawless with “a more focused executive management role at this important stage of Jumeirah’s international growth strategy”. The move is effective from 1 September.

Other changes in Jumeirah Group’s board include the addition of ex Virgin Group CEO Stephen Murphy as non-executive chairman.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of no frills airline flydubai, former Hilton Group CEO David Michels and Dubai Holding COO Fadel Al Ali, are now also members of Jumeirah’s board.

The hospitality firm’s portfolio includes Dubai’s iconic Burj Al-Arab hotel, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Emirates Towers.

Jumeirah’s overseas properties include Essex House in New York City, Himalayas Hotel in Shanghai and Jumeirah Frankfurt.

In April, Jumeirah Group said it was looking to double its workforce over the next five years to 30,000 and increase its number of operating hotels from its current 20 to between 35 and 40.

The firm also said its restaurants division had signed a joint-venture to open 27 of its Noodle House outlets across the UK.