Jumeirah Group CEO Stefan Leser has quietly left the Dubai-based hotel
company little more than a year after he joined, it has emerged.
Jumeirah Group issued a statement on the news in response to a request
from Arabian Business on Sunday. In a subsequent email, a spokesperson for the
group said he left for “purely personal” reasons.
It is understood that Leser, who replaced longstanding president and CEO
Gerald Lawless in February 2016, departed in May this year.
He no longer features on the list of group executive staff on Jumeirah’s
website, and instead Marc Dardenne, who joined Jumeirah as group COO in
September 2016, is listed as interim CEO, having been appointed to the role in
May 2017, according to the website.
Meanwhile Bloomberg’s executive profile of Leser states that the former
CEO left his post the same month. A recruitment process is under way for
Leser’s permanent replacement.
The statement from Jumeirah Group said: “This is to confirm the
resignation of Stefan Leser, Jumeirah Group Chief Executive Officer.
“Since joining the group in early 2016, Stefan was responsible for
overseeing the delivery of the group’s performance and strategic
vision. This included important milestone projects such as the Burj Al
Arab Terrace and overseeing the completion and launch of Jumeirah Al Naseem,
the group’s latest luxury hotel destination that enhances the award-winning
Madinat Jumeirah Resort.
“Dubai Holding and Jumeirah Group thank Stefan for his service and
contribution to the development of the iconic Jumeirah brand.
“A search for Stefan’s replacement has been initiated and in the
meantime, Marc Dardenne, Jumeirah Group’s Chief Operating Officer will run the
business, working closely with Dubai Holding CEO, Edris Al Rafi.”
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