Deutsche Hospitality announces leadership changes
Marcus Bernhardt and Dr. Ulrich Johannwille took charge of Steigenberger Hotels AG/Deutsche Hospitality on 1 November 2020
Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 2020-Nov-05 — /Travel PR News/ — The designated Members of the Executive Board of Steigenberger Hotels AG/Deutsche Hospitality – CEO Marcus Bernhardt and CFO Dr. Ulrich Johannwille – assumed responsibility for operational management at the hotel group with effect from 1 November 2020. This new leadership pairing creates a wealth of international experience at the helm of Steigenberger Hotels AG, which brings together five separate hotel brands under the umbrella brand of Deutsche Hospitality.
“I am delighted that our company is now under the dual leadership of Mr. Bernhardt and Mr. Johannwille,” said André Witschi, Chair of the Supervisory Board of Steigenberger Hotels AG. “They will provide precisely the right kind of experience, expertise and vision that we need in order to establish Deutsche Hospitality in the very top flight of the European hotel sector over the coming years. Both Board Members also have a background in industries which have been forced to undergo radical adjustments in the recent past. The hotel sector is now also facing a similar shift. These appointments mean that we are perfectly equipped to deal with the changes that lie ahead, and we will go on to achieve a significant expansion in our market position.”
Marcus Bernhardt, CEO, Deutsche Hospitality, stated: “Deutsche Hospitality brings together a unique brand portfolio which is both steeped in tradition and geared towards the future of the hotel industry. Our task as Board Members is to work in conjunction with our staff to open up a new chapter in the history of the company and to move in the direction of reinventing ourselves. Especially given the challenging nature of the times, we are prepared to embrace the courage which is needed to pursue new pathways together. The company has already undergone a very successful transformation, and we will take an even more robust approach towards establishing it as an international player.”
Marcus Bernhardt is already highly familiar with our company. Between 2004 and 2010, he served Steigenberger Hotels AG in the capacities of Executive Vice President Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts and as Group Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Bernhardt’s most recent role before his “homecoming” to Deutsche Hospitality was as Managing Director of the Europcar Mobility Group in Paris, where his achievements included driving forward expansion via a franchise model and alliances. Marcus Bernhardt holds a degree in Economics and an MBA from the University of Berkeley. He is also a former Executive Vice President and Board Member at Gulf Air.
“Deutsche Hospitality has adjusted to the current situation outstandingly well over the past months,” explained Dr. Ulrich Johannwille, CFO, Deutsche Hospitality. “Marcus Bernhardt and I are confident that we will be able to make good use of the coming weeks and months as we work with our employees to structure the company in an even more efficient, even more passionate and even more sustainable way. I am very much looking forward to collaborating with our employees to shape the future of Deutsche Hospitality.”
Mr. Johannwille held a number of senior membership roles at Condor Flugdienst GmbH after joining the company in 2006 and also spent more than 10 years as the airline’s Chief Financial Officer. He assumed an additional responsibility between 2013 and 2019, during which time he took charge of the finance divisions of the four international Thomas Cook Airlines. Prior to working for Condor, Ulrich Johannwille completed six years as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company.
André Witschi, Chair of the Supervisory Board, went on: “Finally, and today especially, we also need to express our thanks to Matthias Heck, who has overseen such excellent development at the company over the past years both as CFO, CEO and as a passionate employee of Deutsche Hospitality. We are delighted that Mr. Heck has kindly agreed to continue to serve on the Executive Board for the next few weeks. Beyond that, he will be available to us in a consultancy capacity.”
ABOUT DEUTSCHE HOSPITALITY
Deutsche Hospitality brings together five separate hotel brands under a single umbrella. Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts has 60 hotels housed in historic traditional buildings and lively city residences and also offers health and beauty oases set at the very heart of nature. MAXX by Steigenberger is a new and charismatic concept which places the focus on the essential in accordance with its motto “MAXXimize your stay”. Jaz in the City branded hotels reflect metropolitan lifestyle and draw upon the local music and cultural scene. IntercityHotel offers more than 40 upper mid-range urban hotels, all of which are located within easy walking distance of railway stations or airports. And Zleep Hotels – a well-known and successful hotel brand in Scandinavia which offer service and design at a great rate for the many. The portfolio of Deutsche Hospitality currently includes almost 150 hotels on three continents 30 of which are in the pipeline.
PR Contact:
Corporate Communications
Sven Hirschler
Lyoner Straße 25
60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
tel: +49 (0)69 66564-422
mailto: sven.hirschler@deutschehospitality.com
Source: Deutsche Hospitality
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