Dubai Holding announced the transition of Jumeirah Group president and CEO Gerald Lawless to a new position responsible for tourism and hospitality in Dubai Holding’s corporate office, having served 18 years at the helm of Jumeirah Group.
Lawless joined Jumeirah Group in 1997. As well as leading the drive to establish Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Lawless spearheaded the expansion of the company’s portfolio, which now includes 23 hotels in 12 destinations, stretching from London to Shanghai. Jumeirah Group operates more than 100 restaurants, the Wild Wadi Waterpark and the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. The company has also launched Venu, a contemporary lifestyle hotel brand.
Dubai Holdings has appointed Stefan Leser has the company’s new CEO. He joins the company after 10 years at Swiss travel business Kuoni, where he most recently held the position of executive vice president of its outbound travel and inbound specialist businesses, managing a team of 8,000 employees.
“We appreciate the role that Gerald has played as the founding CEO of the Jumeirah Group and its subsequent expansion,” says Mohammad Abdulla Al Gergawi, chairman of Dubai Holding. “As a tireless ambassador for tourism and hospitality in Dubai, he is a leader admired across the industry for his commitment to innovation and excellence in the field of luxury hospitality and has been an inspiration to Jumeirah employees, to guests and to other stakeholders in the sector. Jumeirah Group has been a consistently valuable engine of international growth for Dubai Holding and its future expansion will further enhance that impact. We are delighted to have the opportunity of benefitting from Gerald’s expertise in building our own integrated vision for the hospitality sector.”
Lawless will assume the title of honorary president of the Jumeirah Group, and remain chancellor of the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. He will also transition in April to the role of chairman of the World Travel & Tourism Council.
