The latest industry appointments

EDIE RODRIGUEZ has been named as Crystal Cruises’ new president & chief executive offer, following Genting Hong Kong’s acquisition of the company. Ms Rodriguez has previously held senior executive positions with Carnival and Royal Caribbean, and most recently served as Crystal’s chief operating officer.

SAMIR WILDEMANN has been named as Kempinski’s new senior vice president of operations for Southeast Asia, and general manager of the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. Wildemann has 28 years’ experience in Europe and Asia, most recently as GM & corporate executive officer of The Okura Prestige Bangkok.

IWAN KIP has been appointed as Etihad Airways’ new general manager for Indonesia, based in Jakarta. Kip, who has more than 10 years of travel industry experience, takes up the role having most recently spent two years as Etihad’s manager of direct sales & operations for the Netherlands.

DAVID AU HO-CHEUNG has been announced as the new executive director for property development for Hong Kong’s Airport Authority. Au has more than 30 years of experience with major architectural firms and developers in Hong Kong, including a 20-year spell at Sun Hung Kai Properties.

JOHN KOCKAN has been appointed general manager of the Pan Pacific Perth. A US national, he moves to Australia from China, where he previously spent four years as GM of the Pan Pacific Xiamen. Kockan also previously spent six years as GM of Pan Pacific’s Parkroyal on Beach Road hotel in Singapore.

ERIC KEE has become the new general manager of the Pan Pacific Xiamen, following John Kockan’s departure. Kee has almost two decades of hotel experience in China and Malaysia, including spells at the Westin Kuala Lumpur, Mandarin Oriental Macau, Wynn Resort Macau and Regent Beijing.

BENJAMIN ZAHN has been named as the new general manager of Le Royal Meridien Shanghai. The move marks Zahn’s first GM posting, following 17 years of hotel experience specialising in F&B. He joined Starwood as director of F&B at the Westin Beijing Chaoyang before becoming hotel manager at the Westin Kuala Lumpur.

MICHAEL GAEHLER has become the new general manager of The Regent Taipei. Gaehler has had an interesting hotel career that included a spell helping to launch the Ananti Kumgang Mountain in North Korea. He first joined FIH Regent Group in 2009 as general manager of the Silks Place Taroko in Taiwan.

VIMI MODESHIA has been named as FCm Travel Solutions’ new regional director of account management for Southeast Asia. The move marks a promotion for Ms Modeshia, who joined FCm in the UK eight years ago. She moved to Singapore five years ago and previously served as regional account manager for Asia Pacific.

RICHARD ONG has been appointed general manager of the Orchard Hotel Singapore. A seasoned hotelier, Ong joins the Millennium and Copthorne property with 30 years’ experience in Singapore, the US, Cambodia, Australia, China and Japan. He joined M&C last year as general manager of operations for Asia.