APPOINTMENTS
Virgin Hotels Collection, the parent brand of Virgin Hotels and Virgin Limited Edition, has announced two major leadership appointments. Chris Stevens has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer, and Rayhan Arif as Chief Commercial & Financial Officer. These strategic appointments reinforce Virgin Hotels Collection’s continued growth as the brand expands its global footprint and evolves its signature guest experience.
CHRIS STEVENS
Chris Stevens brings extensive operational expertise, asset value creation, and nearly 25 years of hospitality leadership to his new role. Chris has held pivotal roles across operations, asset management, and commercial strategy. Most recently, Chris served as Senior Vice President at Ashford Inc., where he ran Asset Management and Commercial divisions for all asset classes. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Asset Management at BRE Hotels & Resorts, a Blackstone portfolio company, where he focused on strategic value creation across a diverse portfolio of hospitality assets.
He also held earlier leadership positions at Ashford Inc., helping steer complex assets through market transitions. Chris’s foundation in hospitality was built during a successful 17-year tenure at Hilton, where he rose through ranks in a series of progressive roles in operations, revenue management, and global commercial strategy. Chris holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from the SMU Cox School of Business.
RAYHAN ARIF
Joining as Chief Commercial & Financial Officer, Rayhan Arif steps into the position with strategic, financial, and brand-building expertise cultivated over nearly eight years within the Virgin Group. A trusted leader across the Virgin portfolio, Rayhan has played an instrumental role in the growth of some of the brand’s most dynamic ventures. His long-standing connection to Virgin Hotels—as a Board Observer—makes this appointment a natural next chapter in his journey.
His Virgin portfolio experience includes board roles with Virgin Mobile Latin America, Grove Collaborative and HiddenLight Productions, along with overseeing Virgin Orbit, BMR Energy, and both Virgin Group Acquisition Corps.
Prior to the Virgin Group, Rayhan was an investment professional at AEA Investors. He started his career in Bain & Company’s New York office as a Management Consultant. Mr. Arif received a B.A. in Economics from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
“We are thrilled to welcome both Chris and Rayhan into their new leadership roles at such a pivotal moment in our company’s journey,” said James Bermingham, CEO of Virgin Hotels Collection. “Chris’s operational excellence and Rayhan’s commercial and financial acumen are exactly what we need as we continue to scale globally and enhance our brand promise for travelers seeking bold, design-forward, and experience-driven stays.”
These leadership appointments signal a strong commitment to operational excellence and strategic expansion.
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