Steigenberger Hotels AG has named Thomas Willms as its new CEO and spokesperson for the company’s management board. Willms joined the company this past June as its chief operating officer, and prior to that he was a senior vice president at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The new position is effective immediately.
Willms will retain overall operational responsibility for all three hotel brands: Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts, Jaz in the City and IntercityHotel. Sales and marketing, e-business, revenue management, strategy, future openings and franchise, corporate communications and corporate social responsibility will all also still fall within his remit, Steigenberger said. Matthias Heck will continue to act as chief financial officer and labor director. Heck will be in charge of the areas of finance and accounting, controlling and reporting, human resources, development, asset management, construction, interior design and engineering, IT, procurement, legal affairs and internal audit.
“Mr. Willms has shown considerable commitment in getting up to speed within a very short space of time,” said Dr. Ralf Corsten, chairman of the supervisory board, in a written statement. “We are confident that he will be able to deliver robust and effective leadership and secure the future development of Steigenberger Hotels AG. We wish him every success and hope he enjoys his new role.”
Before coming to Steigenberger, Willms was senior vice president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he was in charge of all hotels and activities in Central and Eastern Europe. He has also held leadership posts at ArabellaStarwood, Maritim and Intercontinental during the course of his managerial career. Willms completed his training at the Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality in Chur, where he gained an MBA in 2004. He is married and has two children.
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