This week, there’s a ton of industry people moving and shaking around. And they’re also getting promoted!

Air New Zealand names new chief digital officer

Air New Zealand today announced that Jennifer Sepull has been appointed as the airline’s new chief digital officer.

Sepull will join CEO Christopher Luxon’s Executive team on 1 May. She brings more than 20 years of digital and technology leadership experience from around the globe to the airline.

Agoda appoints Ittai Chorev as chief marketing officer

Agoda, one of the world’s fastest growing digital travel companies has announced the appointment of Ittai Chorev as its chief marketing officer.

Chorev, previously vice president of marketing at Agoda, will now oversee all of the company’s global marketing functions as part of his expanded portfolio, including performance marketing (SEM/PPC, MSE, display), CRM, pricing and loyalty, brand marketing and consumer public relations.

Prior to his role at Agoda, Chorev was the co-founder of Qlika, a startup specialising in online marketing optimisation, which was acquired by Booking Holdings in 2014. He subsequently joined Agoda and held several roles leading teams including data science and PPC.

Emporium Hotel South Bank announces new general manager

Emporium Hotels, Australia’s most awarded luxury boutique hotel brand, is proud to announce the appointment of its new general manager, Charles Martin.

Martin is responsible for managing the diverse range of luxury accommodation, premium dining and residential services at Emporium Hotels. At 27, he is one of the youngest general managers of a five-star luxury hotel property in the nation.

Martin joined Anthony John Group (owners of Emporium Hotels) as an owners representative in March 2018, where he coordinated operations across the group to ensure a seamless integration between the hotel’s pre-opening program, Emporium residential settlements and hotel development activities.

Independently owned and operated, Emporium Hotel South Bank is the vision of Anthony and Francine John, the team behind the original Emporium Hotel in Fortitude Valley, which built an enviable track record of awards and recognition.

It was at this property where Martin first worked in hotels, taking a casual position within the concierge department in 2009 and ultimately working across several departments over five years part time while he completed his studies.

Six Senses Hotels appoints Guy Heywood as chief operating officer

Guy Heywood has been appointed to the role of chief operating officer with Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas.

Heywood joins Six Senses from his previous role as the chief operating officer for Alila Hotels and Resorts, a position he held for the past eight years.

With over 30 years of experience within the international hotel and tourism industry, Heywood started his journey down under in Australia as the restaurant and lounge manager at InterContinental Sydney.

He then moved on to The Regent Sydney, followed by Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi and Four Seasons Hotel Singapore in a similar capacity.

In 1997, Martin joined Aman Resorts as general manager of Amankila in Bali, and quickly rose through the ranks to become the area manager for Amanresorts Indonesia, based at Amanusa. He then moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to act as country manager of Amanresorts Americas and Caribbean, based at Amangani.

When Australia beckoned again after so many years away, Heywood moved back to be the group general manager of Voyages Hotels and Resorts in Cairns, looking after the renowned properties of Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Longitude 131° at at Uluru-Kata Tjuta and El Questro In The Kimberley, among many others.