IHG shakes up regional executive team

Intercontinental Hotels Group has announced strategic changes to its Asia, Middle East and Africa regional operating committee.

Alan Watts, who was previously COO Australasia and Japans, and operations performance AEMA, has been promoted to COO for Asia, Middle East and Africa.

In his new role, Watts will oversee the performance of 246 hotels in 37 countries and territories, and will be supported by IHG COO India, Middle East and Africa Pascal Gauvin, and Phil Broad, vice president food & beverage AMEA.

Clarence Tan, previously COO for South East Asia and Resorts, who was based in Thailand, has been appointed senior vice president, development for AMEA.

He takes over the role from Paul Logan, who will take on the newly created position of chief development officer. Logan will hand over responsibilities to Tan over the next 15 months, culminating in his retirement at the end of 2015.

Both will report directly to the region’s CEO Jan Smits, who commented: “In the past three years since we formed this geographically, and culturally, diverse region of Asia, Middle East and Africa, we have grown to a total of over 245 hotels across five brands, with another 137 in our development pipeline.”

“Our regions’ success and strategic growth is a reflection of the depth and diversity of our talent; and I have made these changes to our senior leadership team in response to the fast evolving landscape in which we operate.

“Paul has been a key driver in our growth story and he will continue to be so. Both Alan and Clarence have been with IHG for more than a decade and in their new roles they will continue to play an important part in our journey, ensuring we deliver on the expectations of our guests, hotel owners and guests.”

IHG currently has 246 operational hotels in 37 countries and territories across five brands – InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Staybridge Suites. A further 137 hotels are in the group’s regional development pipeline, due to open in the next three to five years.