Guy Hutchinson is appointed president of the Middle East and Africa by Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is excited to share the news of Guy Hutchinson's appointment as the President of the Middle East & Africa, beginning in early 2024. After almost a decade, Hutchinson is returning to Hilton, having previously held key roles as COO and CEO at Rotana Hotels & Resorts in Abu Dhabi. His extensive background includes a 16-year tenure at Hilton, where he contributed significantly to various regions, such as the Middle East, Europe, Japan, China, Australia, and India, serving as the Vice President of Operations until 2014. This announcement follows the unexpected passing of Jochem-Jan (JJ) Sleiffer in April 2023, who devoted more than 33 years to Hilton, leaving a lasting legacy of nurturing a distinctive culture, propelling growth, and achieving remarkable performance in Hilton's European and Middle East & Africa markets. Set to assume his new role in early 2024, Hutchinson will be stationed at Hilton's Regional Office in Dubai, reporting to Simon Vincent CBE, the EVP & President of Europe, Middle East & Africa at Hilton.

Vincent said, “Finding the right individual to propel our Middle East & Africa region forward has been of the utmost importance as we considered this pivotal leadership position. Guy brings regional operations expertise, a genuine passion for hospitality, and a leadership style aligned with our Hilton culture. Amidst a period of unparalleled growth and performance in MEA, under Guy’s leadership, I am confident we will continue to build on the significant momentum achieved in the region.”

Guy Hutchinson commented, “I am delighted to return to Hilton to lead the Middle East & Africa region and continue the incredible work that my friend JJ spearheaded. I started my career with Hilton in Amsterdam and have always admired this iconic hospitality brand and its superb culture. I look forward to leading Hilton’s next chapter in MEA and working with a team known for delivering incredible guest experiences and best-in-class results.”

As of now, Hilton boasts a presence of 285 hotels in various stages of development or operation throughout the Middle East & Africa region, representing 11 unique brands. In 2023, the company celebrated the opening of several new hotels, including the Hilton Skanes Monastir Beach Resort and Hilton Kinshasa, while also securing agreements for upcoming ventures in Ghana, Nigeria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. With a workforce exceeding 29,000 Team Members in the region, Hilton takes pride in its acclaimed workplace culture, consistently earning top rankings in the "Great Places to Work" listings in the Middle East for several consecutive years.