Mark Griffiths joins Kempinski as regional SVP

Kempinski Hotels has appointed Mark Griffiths as its senior vice president, regional operations for the Middle East & Africa, a role vacated by Bugra Berberoglu towards the end of last year.

Based in Dubai, he will oversee the operations of Kempinski’s nineteen existing hotels across the Middle East and Africa, as well as the development and opening of another ten hotels in the region.

Griffiths has more than 25 years of operational and asset management experience in hospitality and was most recently the general manager of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, leading the opening of the Kuwait property.

He has also held management positions with Le Meridien and Jumeirah in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East during his career, while he previously worked in Dubai for Majid Al Futtaim Properties, as vice president of asset management hospitality.

Berberoglu left Kempinski in November to “consider other career opportunities” and was subsequently appointed CEO of Rixos Hotels.

His departure came at the same time as that of former president Middle East & Africa Ulrich Eckhardt, who decided to retire after almost 20 years with the company.

The same month also saw a major shake-up of Kempinski's board-level management, with the CEO and COO both stepping down and the former general manager of Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates named to the top role.