Centara Hotels & Resorts has appointed Michael Henssler its new chief operating officer, overseeing the expansion of the company's diverse global portfolio, commercial, operations and development divisions.
Working alongside the senior executive team, Mr Henssler is expected to add considerable value to the business, helping Centara to double its total portfolio and achieve its five-year goal of becoming a top 100 global hotel operator by 2027.
He is also expected to deliver new hotel management contracts in dynamic destinations and exciting new international markets, through Centara's six brands and new sectors including branded residences and wellness retreats.
With almost 30 years' hotel experience, Mr Henssler has held senior leadership positions in Europe, the Middle East and China.
Mr Henssler graduated from École Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland. He served as president of Kempinski, the leading European luxury hotel group, in China. He also served as managing director of Key International Hotel Management, the Chinese joint venture.
Most recently, he was chief operating officer of Kempinski Asia.
"Centara is an outstanding company with a proud history and a promising future. It has a portfolio of six hotel brands, all of which have strong potential growth," said Mr Henssler.
"Coming from a large family, I deeply admire Centara's commitment to family values and Thai hospitality. I look forward to helping the group extend its warm welcome to even more guests around the world," he added.
"I am delighted to welcome Michael to the Centara family. With his impressive career -- including extensive experience in key markets such as China and the Middle East -- and a proven track record of achieving results, he is the perfect person to help our company reach our goal of becoming a top 100 global hotel group," said Thirayuth Chirathivat, chief executive of Centara Hotels & Resorts.