The latest industry appointments

KERRIE MATHER has been elected president of Airports Council International (ACI) Asia Pacific. Ms Mather, who is currently CEO of Sydney Airport, will now serve a two-year term with ACI. The appointment was confirmed that the 11th ACI Asia Pacific Regional Assembly, which took place in the Gold Coast this week.

SIMON FIQUET has been appointed as Expedia’s new general Manager for Southeast Asia & India, based in Singapore. He brings extensive experience to the role, having previously headed Google Travel’s Asia Pacific team. He has also held sales positions for Google in Europe and worked for Mars&Co.

MICHAEL SAGILD has become the new CEO of the Blink Design Group, which specialises in hotel design. Sagild is a seasoned hotelier and brings more than 30 years’ experience to the Bangkok-based company, including a spell as MGM Hospitality’s managing director for Asia Pacific development.

JEFFERY SMITH has become Six Senses’ new head of sustainability. His role will include monitoring the environmental performance of each property and enhancing socio-economic benefits to communities in destinations where resorts are located. He previously worked for Global Vision International.

ARPIT PANT has become Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ regional director of South Asia & Middle East, based in New Delhi. Pant brings 15 years of experience to the new role. He first joined Preferred in January 2015 as account director of South Asia & Middle East. He has previously been a hotel GM.

PEERAPHOL JITTINBOONRUAN has become the new general manager of the Eastin Yama Hotel Phuket. Khun Peeraphol brings 20 years of experience to Absolute Hotel Services, including spells with such major international hotel groups as AccorHotels, Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International.

BAWORNPAK WACHIRAWARAKARN has been appointed as Thailand country manager for AirAsia’s Big loyalty programme. Ms Tae, as she is better known, has 20 years of hotel sales and marketing experience, most recently as vice president of membership sales for the Mahasamutr Country Club Hua Hin.

NERISSA LI has become Destination NSW’s new business development manager for northern China. Based at the state tourism board’s new Beijing office, Ms Li will be tasked with driving more visitors to Sydney and New South Wales from the north and northwest regions of China.

MARK SHRIVES has been appointed as Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts’ new director of e-commerce for Asia. Based in Bangkok, he moves to the Swiss hotel group from MBK Hospitality & Tourism where he served as vice president of e-commerce. He also previously worked for Hansar Hotels.

IVY WANG has been appointed executive assistant manager at the Wanda Realm Harbin hotel. Ms Wang has 23 years’ experience, including spells with Shangri-La, Starwood and AccorHotels. She joined the Wanda Hotel Group in August 2013 and most recently serves as assistant manager at the Wanda Realm Nanchang.

CINDY GOO has been announced as the new director of sales & marketing at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium. She brings more than 15 years’ experience to the role, including spells with the Park Hotel Group and Carlton Hotel Singapore. Most recently she worked at Studio M Singapore.