Abercrombie & Kent has recruited former Kerzner International boss Michael Wale as the group’s new president and chief executive.
He will join on October 1, relocating from his current base in Dubai to Monaco. Wale, who was chief executive for the parent of Atlantis and One& Only Resorts, will remain on the board for Kerzner.
Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, co-chairman of the Abercrombie & Kent Group, said: “With Michael, Abercrombie & Kent will start an exciting new chapter.
“When guests book a holiday with us, they know we will guide them to amazing places, but the destination is a given. What they expect from us – and what keeps them coming back – is how we go the extra mile. Michael’s extensive experience in guest services and operations will take what A&K is known for to the next level.”
Geoffrey Kent, founder and co-chairman, added: “Michael Wale has a remarkable track record of steering leading luxury brands towards unequalled heights. We look forward to working with him to elevate Abercrombie & Kent’s profile and achieve even higher standards of excellence.”
Speaking about his appointment, Wale said: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at Abercrombie & Kent at this pivotal time in the company’s history.
“I have travelled with A&K before and understand its distinctive approach to luxury experiential travel. I also look forward to working with Geoffrey and Manfredi, two titans of the travel industry, to build a bright future for our guests, partners and staff.”
Prior to joining Kerzner, Wale worked for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he worked his way up from being front office manager of Sheraton Park Tower to president for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, overseeing the operations of 250 properties across 10 brands in 60 countries.