M&B finance director checks in at Rocco Forte Collection
Posted by admin in Career Ladder on Tue, 03/08/2010 - 09:18
The former finance director of Mitchell & Butlers (M&B), Karim Naffah, has been appointed as managing director of the Rocco Forte Collection.
Lebanon-born Naffah, who has been advising on the restructuring of the luxury hotel chain since 2009, will share the running of the company with Sir Rocco Forte. "We have selected Karim for his proven ability to establish robust business planning and performance disciplines, in addition to his strategic skills,” said Forte who founded the chain in 1996 after Granada's acrimonious takeover of the Forte hospitality empire.“As we have got to know Karim over the past 12 months we have been impressed by his leadership qualities and understanding of our culture and approach. His level-headed style has gained the respect of employees and business partners and we are all very pleased that he is joining our company on a permanent basis.”
“The growth of our portfolio requires the fortification of our management structures as well as business planning, performance and governance processes to ensure its continued success and outperformance within a highly competitive marketplace,” he added. “Karim’s role will be primarily focused on the continuation of the company’s successful drive to advance performance and to work with me on the future strategic development of the business. In doing so he will lead a team of experienced directors, including finance director Alan Clark, brand managing director Richard Power and operations director Martin Elsner.
Naffah resigned after hedging swaps M&B put in place to facilitate a property joint-venture went wrong. Previous roles include strategy director at Bass PLC/Six Continents PLC where he played a key part in the business planning and performance management of the FTSE 100 Group. In addition he oversaw the strategic transformation of the Group culminating in the successful demerger of Six Continents hotel and pub divisions.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Naffah was educated at Harrow School and Lincoln College, Oxford University. He speaks English, French, Arabic and Spanish. Post university he spent seven years with management consultancy Bain & Company.
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