APPOINTMENTS

Aleph Hospitality expands leadership team and regional presence across Middle East and Africa

Aleph Hospitality has expanded its leadership team and regional platform as it prepares for further growth across the Middle East and Africa. The company currently operates more than 50 hotels, with over 30 additional properties in development across 23 countries and 39 cities.

Aline Barhouche has been appointed Chief Human Resources Officer, overseeing the company’s people strategy, including leadership development, talent management, organisational culture, and governance. She brings more than two decades of experience in human resources, having worked across Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Estelle Chambost has taken on the role of Vice President, Learning and Development. Having spent ten years with the company, she will focus on shaping learning initiatives, with an emphasis on developing future leaders and using technology and partnerships to support scalable training programmes. Chambost has 27 years of experience in hospitality and leadership development.

Marc Matar joins as Vice President, Food and Beverage. In this role, he will lead the development of the company’s food and beverage division, focusing on innovation, operational performance, and delivering value for owners across Africa and the Middle East. Matar brings 25 years of experience in food and beverage operations and strategy across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Abdellah Essonni has been appointed Regional Vice President for North Africa and will be based in Casablanca. He will oversee the strategic, operational, and financial performance of the North Africa portfolio, as well as expansion efforts, partnerships, and new management and franchise agreements. Essonni has 35 years of experience in hospitality and real estate across four continents.

As part of its regional strategy, Aleph Hospitality is also establishing new offices to work more closely with hotel owners and operations. In addition to its presence in Riyadh, the company is opening an office in Casablanca, Morocco, with further locations planned in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Cape Town, South Africa; and Nairobi, Kenya.

Having reached its earlier target of operating 50 hotels by 2025, Aleph Hospitality has now set a new goal of operating 100 hotels by the end of 2029.