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VP Development UK & Ireland
Hilton Hotels Corporation
The Project
Following the acquisition of its long standing alliance partner, Hilton International, Hilton Hotels Corporation is aggressively exploiting the opportunity to export some of its traditionally US brands into international markets. To handle this expansion, Hilton began an extensive recruitment programme to strengthen its development team.
The Assignment
To assist in this effort Hilton retained the services of HVS Executive Search to source a Vice President Development, UK & Ireland. The position holds responsibility for developing brands such as Hilton Garden Inn in this key market.
The Results
Following a thorough search for potential candidates in the UK market by HVS Executive Search, Hilton recruited Nick Smart into the role.
Nick joins Hilton after 24 years with Radisson Edwardian Hotels (REH), where he was most lately their Commercial Development Director. He began his career in Sales and Marketing in the US and in the UK and then advanced into development.
Today, Nick Smart is a veteran in acquisitions and development strategy with achievements that include the acquisition of the MayFair InterContinental for REH, and the securing of management contracts on new build hotels in Manchester, Guildford, Coventry and Canary Wharf. He was responsible for the entire development process from opportunity identification through feasibility, due diligence, deal negotiation, to planning, design, construction, and opening.
Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice president Development adds, "HVS was able to quickly identify the most suitable developers in the UK for our growth plans and get us together. Nick is probably one of the best hires we have ever made!"
“HVS was able to quickly identify the most suitable developers in the UK for our growth plans and get us together. Nick is probably one of the best hires we have ever made!”
Patrick Fitzgibbon,
SVP Development
Director Development – Russia
Hilton Hotels
The Project
Notwithstanding the pressures that global economy downturn puts on Hotel brands’ ability to drive growth, the Hilton Hotels’ Development team is still pushing forward in trying to grasp the leading share of the ever-lucrative Russia & CIS market. Additional manpower was needed to sustain a very strong pipeline being built by the Development team for Hilton Hotels out of their Regional Development Office in Moscow.
The Assignment
HVS Executive Search Moscow was rather successful in securing the candidate to place into the 1st Development Director – Russia & CIS position, and our candidate had already made a considerable contribution to the company. Thus, it was only natural for Hilton Hotels to turn to our services again.
The Results
We attempted to complete the existing Hilton team by bringing in somebody familiar with the “other side” of development process – on the side of the owner, construction company, project managers.
Igor Dyadchenko was selected to work towards a common goal of promoting the Hilton’s line-up of brands into the developing Russian market. Igor brings a wealth of experience in managing the construction processes and the relationships with international operators from the owner’s side to the Hilton team, which should help the company better understand the needs of all parties to the process.
Igor starts his endeavour at Hilton Hotels’ regional office in Moscow in late October 2008 as a Development Director - Russia and CIS.
Director Development – Russia
Hilton Hotels
The Project
As the lucrative Russian hotel market gets busier, and international hotel brands are rubbing shoulders with each other, Hilton Hotels was also looking to establish a stronger foothold in the market. The company needed strong local representation to help promote it’s line-up of brands in Russia, CIS and the Baltic States.
The Assignment
HVS Executive Search Moscow was commissioned to conduct a search for a Director of Development - Russia, drawing on its regional expertise in the hospitality market. The search was especially difficult considering the limited availability of talent in the Development field of the bustling, but still very young Russian market.
The Results
As a result of an intensive market-wide search, Vladimir Ilichev was selected to represent Hilton to the hotel, investor and developer community in Russia.
Vladimir has previously spent 9 years with Accor Hotels in Russia, responsible for the Development department of this French group. He was responsible for propelling the company into a recognisable name in the Russian market. He has a background in the construction industry which helps him relate better to the developers and contractors, as well as the owners of the hotels.
As of late April 2008, Vladimir will be based in the Moscow office of Hilton Hotels as a Development Director for the Russian and CIS territories.
Director Development Spain & Portugal
Hilton Hotels Corporation
The Project
As part of Hilton’s global growth strategy, Hilton Hotels Corporation needed a strong Development Director to oversee all development in Spain & Portugal. Hilton currently has 7 hotels in Spain & Portugal and the 5 year plan is to grow the portfolio to around 50 hotels through management contracts, leases and franchises.
The HVS Assignment
Hilton Hotels Corporation hired HVS Executive Search to conduct a national search for a Development Director to oversee the development for the group in Spain & Portugal for all Hilton brands. HVS Executive Search focused the search in Spain but also conducted an international search targeting Spanish hotel developers working abroad. HVS Executive Search focused on finding hotel developers with a proven track record in hotel development and a strong knowledge of the local market.
The Results
Carlos Miro was selected a Development Director. Most recently, Carlos was Development Director Hotels for Metrovacesa where he was responsible for the creation and future implementation of a new development strategy to expand the company’s hotel acquisitions activities in Europe. Previously to joining Metrovacesa, Carlos worked for over 12 years with Barcelo Hotels, initially in operations and during the last 7 years in development. Carlos focused on development both in Asia and later in EMEA based out of Barcelo’s head office in Palma de Mallorca.
Development Project Manager Franchise - UK and Ireland
Hilton Hotels Corporation, Watford (UK)
The Project
Hilton Hotels Corporation hired HVS Executive Search to conduct a national search for a Development Project Manager to oversee the development and construction of all new-build and conversion projects for all Hilton brands in the UK & Ireland.
The Assignment
As part of Hilton’s global growth strategy, HVS Executive Search was appointed to recruit the new position of Development Franchise Project Manager UK & Ireland. The position is responsible for enforcing design and construction standards and monitoring construction activities for predominately franchise hotel projects from the pre-design stage through to hotel opening. This includes all new-build and conversion opportunities for the Hilton brands with emphasis on Hampton, Hilton Garden Inn and Doubletree.
The Results
Peter Abel was selected as Development Project Manager. Peter has over 20 years of retail and hotel Project Management experience in the UK & Ireland. Previously, Peter was Project Manager for Yum Restaurants. Prior to that, he worked briefly in consulting and for 16 years as a Project Manager for Whitbread overseeing project management for various brands including Travel Inn.
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