The latest industry appointments

RAJIT SUKUMARAN has been named as Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ new vice president of acquisitions & development for Asia Pacific, excluding China. Based in Singapore, he will also oversee Starwood’s regional development offices in Tokyo, Delhi, Jakarta and Sydney. Sukumaran has been with the company since 2005.

MAX HUBER has become BHMAsia’s new director of operations. A Swiss national, Huber joins the Bangkok-based hotel group with more than 30 years’ experience. He is no stranger to Thailand, having previously worked at hotels in Bangkok, Hua Hin and Phuket. Most recently he was director of F&B at the Sofitel Plaza Hanoi.

MAX JANTASUWAN has become the new group managing director for Events Travel Asia. A Thai national, Khun Max will now oversee the Bangkok-based company’s expansion across Asia, including new offices in Singapore and Hong Kong. He has 14 years of experience in the events and hospitality sectors.

SUNSHINE WONG has taken over the reins as general manager of the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport. The move marks the latest step in Wong’s IHG career. He has previously spent 11 years as a GM at Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn properties, and most recently headed IHG’s commercial team for Japan and Korea.

FIONA JEFFREY OBE has been appointed to the board of directors of Brighter Group, the travel and marketing and PR consultancy. Ms Jeffrey steered World Travel Market for more than 20 years, developing it into the global event it is today. She also set up the international water aid charity, Just a Drop.

ADAM BURY has been named as JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group’s new vice president of investment sales for Asia. He joins the company from CBRE, where he spent five years in the capital markets and hotels teams, and is especially familiar with Southeast Asian markets, having spent five years based in Vietnam.

CLAUDIO UCCELLO has been announced as the new resort manager for the X2 Samui. An Italian national, Uccello joins the boutique resort from the Langham Place Samui, where he served as director of F&B development since 2009. Previously in his career he worked for InterContinental Hotels in London and New Orleans.

JUTHARAT KORNSAWAD has become the new resort manager at the X2 River Kwai in Thailand. With nearly 14 years of hospitality experience, Ms Jutharat joins the BHMAsia property from the Amari Atrium Hotel in Bangkok, where she was assistant manager. She has also worked for Anantara, Marriott and Centara.

RAKHI PUROHIT has been announced as the new regional director of sales, marketing, revenue & distribution for Absolute Hotel Services India. Ms Purohit brings 17 years of experience to the role, including more than five years in the UK as a cluster revenue manager. She has also worked in India.

TANASAK VANICHAVIT has been appointed hotel manager of the Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18, Chatrium’s new hotel in central Bangkok. Khun John, as he is better known, honed his hospitality skills with Ascott, first as guest service manager and later rising to assistant resident manager at Ascott Sathorn Bangkok.