APPOINTMENTS
The First Group Hospitality has announced new senior leadership appointments, with new roles created to support the company’s growth and operational scale.
Brendan McCormack- Appointed as Vice President – Business Development,
Food & Beverage (F&B)
Brendan has been appointed as VP- Business Development, F&B. He has been a part of The First Group since 2020, having first joined as Vice President- Operations, F&B.
Most recently, he served as Vice President of Marketing at the group.
Robyn James-O’Connor- Appointed as Senior Vice President – Marketing
Robyn James-O’Connor has been appointed as Senior Vice President- Marketing. She will oversee brand, advertising, public relations, social media and development marketing.
Prior to this, Robyn a 20-year progressive tenure with Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, rising from her first role as Marketing Communications Manager at Burj Al Arab in 2005 to Vice President of Marketing for the group.
During her time, she led award-winning B2B and B2C marketing programmes that strengthened brand visibility and commercial performance.
Robyn brings extensive expertise in brand and integrated performance marketing within the luxury hospitality sector.
Antonio Bissoni- Appointed as Vice President – Commercial
In his new role, Antonio will oversee revenue management, guest engagement centres, distribution, and commercial strategies. He will focus on maximising profits through data-driven revenue management and pricing strategies, optimised market segment and distribution channel management, and advanced analytics.
Antonio joins The First Group Hospitality from Marriott International, where he most recently served as Regional Senior Director of Sales & Distribution, following a global 15-year career with Hilton.
Sohail Pedari- Appointed as Vice President – Sales
Sohail Pedari has been appointed Vice President- Sales. He will oversee group-wide sales operations and performance. He brings senior commercial leadership experience with renowned hospitality brands, including Hilton, Marriott International, and Rocco Forte Hotels.
He has also served as Head of Commercial & Cultural Affairs at the Italian Consulate General in Dubai.
Maria Kuzeva- Appointed as Corporate Director of Wellness & Spa
Maria Kuzeva has been appointed as Corporate Director of Wellness & Spa.
Maria brings over two decades of experience leading wellness operations, concept development, and brand creation for renowned hotels including Madinat Jumeirah, Atlantis The Palm, and Atlantis The Royal.
Commenting on the appointments, Apo Demirtas, Chief Strategy Officer, The First Group Hospitality, said, “It is a pleasure to welcome these talented leaders into their new roles. As First Group’s portfolio continues to grow both regionally and internationally, it is essential that our leadership structure evolves in parallel. These newly created positions are a direct response to our current scale and future pipeline, strengthening our capabilities across commercial, marketing, F&B, and wellness, ensuring we are well-positioned to deliver long-term value for our owners and partners in every market we enter.”
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