Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc (“M&C”), the international hotels group, today announces the appointment of Mr Gavin Simonds as Group Chief Financial Officer, with effect from 1 September 2001.
Gavin Simonds (46), who is currently a director and consultant to a range of companies within the leisure and financial services sector, joins M&C with a significant track record in the leisure sector and a background in corporate finance.
He joined Intercontinental Hotels in 1993 and became Joint Managing Director with responsibility for group wide finance and property. Under his stewardship, the performance of the Company was significantly enhanced during a period of substantial expansion.
Prior to that he was a Director of Corporate Finance at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (formerly Kleinwort Benson) specialising in the leisure sector, having joined from UBS/Phillips & Drew in 1989.
Mr Simonds qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG (formerly Peat Marwick Mitchell) and lives in London with his wife and four children.
Commenting today, John Wilson, Chief Executive of M&C said:
“We are delighted that Gavin has agreed to join Millennium & Copthorne. Gavin brings with him an excellent combination of sector, corporate finance and international management expertise, which will assist us in the next stage of the Group’s development.”
Commenting on his appointment, Gavin Simonds, said:
“I am very pleased to be joining Millennium & Copthorne. I have followed its development into a leading international hotel group and I am looking forward to becoming part of the team working closely with John Wilson.”