- Gerald Lawless.
Dubai Holding announces the transition of Gerald Lawless,?Jumeirah?Group president and CEO, to a new position responsible for tourism and hospitality in Dubai Holding’s Corporate Office, having served 18 years at the helm of Jumeirah?Group.
Lawless first came to Dubai in 1978 and since then has devoted almost 30 years of his professional life to the city. After a 23-year career with Forte Hotels, he joined?Jumeirah Group in 1997.
As well as leading the drive to establish Burj Al Arab?Jumeirah?as the most luxurious hotel in the world and a symbol of Dubai as a luxury destination, Lawless spearheaded the expansion of the company’s portfolio, which now includes 23 hotels in 12 destinations, stretching from London to Shanghai, with a robust pipeline of new openings planned.
Jumeirah?Group operates over 100 restaurants, the Wild Wadi Waterpark and the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management; where Lawless will remain Chancellor.
Stefan Leser has been appointed chief executive of Jumeirah?Group, effective 1 February.
Leser joins from Swiss travel business Kuoni, where he spent the last 10 years, most recently as executive vice president of its outbound travel and inbound specialist businesses managing a team of 8,000 employees.