Stefan Leser has left Dubai's Jumeirah Group

Dubai-based Jumeirah Group has confirmed the departure of its CEO Stefan Leser, reports Arabian Business.

He is understood to have left the company in May 2017 for "purely personal" reasons, according to a spokesperson speaking to Arabian Business.

The Jumeirah Group statement confirmed Leser's resignation, and added that the operator and Dubai Holding thank Leser for his service and contribution.

The statement also said: "A search for Stefan’s replacement has been initiated and in the meantime, Marc Dardenne, Jumeirah Group’s chief operating officer will run the business, working closely with Dubai Holding CEO, Edris Al Rafi."

Leser joined Jumeirah Group in February 2016, with his predecessor Gerald Lawless having moved to Dubai Holding.

He was previously at Swiss travel business Kuoni, where he spent 10 years, and when he left, was executive vice president of Kuoni's outbound travel and inbound specialist businesses.