Lawless leaves Jumeirah for Dubai Holding role

Penelope Walsh, January 11th, 2016

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’.

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.

Leser joins the Jumeirah Group from Swiss travel business Kuoni.

Leser has worked for Kuoni for the last ten years, leaving his role as executive vice president of outbound travel and inbound specialist businesses, where he led a team of approximately 8,000 employers.

Commenting on his recent appointment as Jumeirah Group CEO, Stefan Leser said: “It's a great honour to join Jumeirah; one of the world’s most prestigious hospitality brands and a major contributor to Dubai’s phenomenal success story.

“I look forward to working closely with Jumeirah's talented team as we continue to grow our international portfolio, build our range of brands and deliver ever better services to our guests and business partners.”