:
Europe: Hospitality investment and management company Highgate has appointed Ben Thomas as chief operating officer for Europe.
In this role, Thomas will oversee Highgate’s operations across the continent, driving strategic growth initiatives and optimising performance across its portfolio.
Before he joined Highgate, Thomas worked as chief operating and commercial officer at Penta Hotels for 11 years. There he led operational and commercial functions, overseeing a portfolio of 16 hotels across Europe and Asia.
He also served as Cycas Hospitality’s chief operating officer for the UK and Ireland. Earlier in his career, he held general manager roles across the UK including positions at Village Hotels and Millennium & Copthorne Hotels.
Thomas said: “It is an honour to join Highgate at such an exciting time for the company. Highgate’s proven track record lends itself well to the burgeoning hospitality boom we are seeing across Europe, and I look forward to bringing Highgate’s differentiated capabilities to more hotels, cities, and countries throughout the continent.”
Steve Barick, principal at Highgate, added: “We are delighted to welcome Ben into the Highgate family as our COO for Europe. Ben’s expertise and track record of driving operational and commercial excellence make him the right strategic leader to accelerate Highgate’s expansion. His vision and impact will undoubtedly elevate our teams and portfolio to new levels of success.”
