The latest industry appointments

MARGARET RICE-JONES has been named as chairman of Skyscanner. She brings more than 25 years’ experience to the travel search company, having previously worked with such companies as Motorola and Aircom International. She also oversaw the sale of BlackBerry while heading up NewBay Software.

BERNOLD SCHROEDER has been appointed chief executive officer of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, effective 2 January 2014. A German national, Schroeder arrives at Pan Pacific from his most recently role as CEO of Shanghai-based Jin Jiang Hotels. He previously spent 14 years with Banyan Tree.

SIMON ZHANG has become the new chief executive officer of Jin Jiang International Hotels, replacing Bernold Schroeder. Zhang moves into the role from his previous position as CEO of Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Development Co Ltd. He has 20 years’ experience in hotel management.

MARIO HARDY has been appointed chief operations officer for the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), effective 15 January 2014. An entrepreneur and senior executive with more than 28 years of experience, Hardy was UBM Aviation’s vice president of Asia Pacific between 1999 and 2013.

JUSTIN NORTH has become the new culinary ambassador for Accor’s Pullman Hotels & Resorts brand in Australia. The advisory role will see North oversee the culinary direction of the 11 Pullmans in Australia. He is well-known in Australia, having held two coveted chefs’ hats for more than eight years.

RAYMOND JONES has been announced as the new senior vice president of sales, marketing & asset management at Bombardier Aerospace. Jones has been with Bombardier for 10 years, and was most recently vice president of worldwide strategic accounts for Bombardier Business Aircraft.

GREGOR WALTER has become the new general manager of the Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai. A German national, Walter has 24 years’ experience in the hotel industry, including nine with Shangri-La. He arrives in Shanghai from Shangri-La Ningbo, where he also served as general manager.

RIAZ MAHMOOD has been appointed general manager of the Orchard Hotel Singapore. A 20-year industry veteran, Mahmood joins Millennium & Copthorne from the Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Towers, where he also served as general manager. He has also worked for Raffles and Swissotel.

JASMIN LIM has been announced has the new general manager of the Dorsett Cheras – Dorsett Hospitality International’s new Malaysian hotel which is opening in Q1 2014. Ms Lim most recently served as GM of the Vivatel Kuala Lumpur, and has also worked for Radius and Equatorial Hotels.

BUDI KURNIAWAN has been named as the new head chef at the Crowne Plaza Queenstown. The move marks a promotion for Chef Budi, who previously held the role of sous-chef at the New Zealand hotel. Originally from Indonesia, he moved to the InterContinental Wellington in 2005.