Omer Kaddouri to step down as Rotana president and CEO

Rotana Hotels and Resorts president and chief executive officer Omer Kaddouri will be stepping down from the helm at the end of 2018 after serving at the company for two decades including a five-year tenure in his current role.

Rotana’s chief operating officer Guy Hutchinson, who joined the company in January 2014, will step up as the acting president and CEO after Kaddouri leaves at the end of the year, the company revealed.

Kaddouri was appointed to his current position in January 2014 but throughout his 20-year-long career at Rotana, he worked in various senior management positions at the home-grown company.

Commenting on the departure announcement, Rotana co-founder and vice president Selim El Zyr said, “Throughout his 20 years with Rotana and nearly five years as President and CEO, Omer played an instrumental role in driving the company’s strategic growth and rapid expansion, building a remarkable team and laying the groundwork for our continuing success.”

“Following this announcement, our core focus will be to ensure a smooth and seamless transition for our guests, owners, and colleagues as we strive to continually enhance the Rotana brand. We are grateful to Omer for his visionary stewardship, and wish him every success in his future endeavours,” Zyr added.

Kaddouri was ranked fourth in Hotelier Middle East's annual Power 50 list in September 2018.

Following his departure, Kaddouri will be relocating to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where he will explore fresh avenues in developing and investing in restaurants and hospitality projects, a statement from Rotana said.

WATCH: Rotana CEO Omer Kaddouri on the challenges faced by the Middle East hospitality industry