The latest industry appointments

MARK MEEHAN has been appointed as Travelport’s new managing director for Asia Pacific, based in Singapore. Meehan has spent 15 years with the travel technology company in a variety of roles, including global commercial operations. He previously served as managing director for Travelport in Africa.

CHRISTOPHER NORTON has been appointed to the newly-created role of executive vice president of global product & operations with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. Norton joined Four Seasons in 1989 and most recently held the position of president of hotel operations for Europe, Middle East & Africa.

JAYNE O’BRIEN has become the new senior vice president of global brands for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). An 18-year travel industry career has seen Ms O’Brien work in several sectors, including a long spell with British Airways, where she helped develop the airline’s business class flat-bed.

HING-CHEONG KWOK has been named as Hawaiian Airlines’ first country director for China, ahead of the launch of flights to Beijing next month. Kwok has 50 years’ experience, having started his career with Pan American World Airways in 1964. More recently he worked with United-Continental.

GRAINNE KEARNS has been appointed to the role of group chief information officer with Jetstar, handling the IT for all five of the company’s airlines across the Asia Pacific region. Ms Kearns arrives at Jetstar from Sensis, the advertising and media arm of Telstra, where she also served as CIO.

IAN JONES has become the general manager of the Alila Seminyak Bali, which is due to open in late 2014. A Canadian national, Jones has worked for many major hotel groups, including Starwood, Fairmont, Hilton and Orient Express, where he managed The Westcliff hotel in Johannesburg.

JUSTIN GUO has been named as the new general manager of the Pan Pacific Suzhou, and area general manager for Pan Pacific Hotels Group in China. This role will see Guo oversee the four Pan Pacific properties in China, and three in the pipeline. A Chinese national, he has 20 years’ experience.

FRANZ DONHAUSER has returned to the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong for a second spell as general manager. An Austrian national, Donhauser previously managed the 565-room property from 2002 to 2008 and returns to the hotel following a spell as general manager of the Shangri-La Sydney.

YVES THOMA has been announced as the new resident manager of the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel. A German national, Thoma is a graduate of the Swiss hotel school, Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne. Most recently he worked as general manager of the Happy Valley Clubhouse in Hong Kong.

PIUS LUECHINGER has been named as the new general manager of the Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort in Thailand. Luechinger has 20 years’ experience at hotels in Thailand, Vietnam and South Korea, most recently as general manager of the Sareeraya Villas & Suites in Koh Samui.

RUEDIGER LURZ has become the new executive chef at the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong. With more than 18 years of experience, Chef Ruediger has worked in numerous restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Weinhau Anker in Germany. Most recently he was executive chef at the Shangri-La Ningbo.

DANIEL JOHNSON has become the new executive chef that the Jumeirah Dhevanafushi in the Maldives. An Australian national, Chef Daniel he has worked as an executive chef at several five-star resorts in Australia and the Maldives, most recently at Huvafen Fushi Resort.