Gerald Lawless Gerald Lawless

Gerald Lawless has accepted a new position with Dubai Holding’s Corporate Office.

Lawless will be moving on from his current position as president and CEO of the Jumeirah Group, having joined the Dubai-born company in 1997.

At the Jumeirah Group, Lawless will be replaced as CEO by Stefan Leser.

Gerald Lawless moved to Dubai in 1978. His hospitality CV has featured 23 years at Forte Hotels, followed by 18 years at the Jumeirah Group.

Within those 18 years with Jumeirah, Lawless is credited with establishing the Burj Al Arab and the group’s expansion outside the UAE (now including Jumeirah properties in London and Shanghai).

Despite leaving the group, Lawless will continue to hold his title at the Jumeirah-operated Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. Lawless will also hold the title as ‘Honorary President of the Jumeirah Group’. 

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Gerald Lawless has thanked the Jumeirah Group for this past opportunity, as well as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Holding and the company’s 14,000 colleagues.

Lawless added: “As I move forward into a new set of responsibilities at Dubai Holding, I look forward to a smooth transition with Stefan, and also to assuming the Chairmanship of the World Travel & Tourism Council in April 2016.”

Leser’s new position as Jumeirah CEO will be effective from February 1 2016.