Naffah, 47, has acted as a consultant to the company since July 2009 during which he has assisted with the company’s successful refinancing and helped drive improvements in the performance management and corporate governance of the group of luxury hotels and resorts.
The new appointment will enable Sir Rocco Forte, founder and executive chairman of the group, to devote more time to spearheading the expansion of the business primarily via management contracts. He will also be able to focus to a greater degree on working with the hotels and the company’s sales and marketing forces to promote the on-going development of the brand.
Prior to joining The Rocco Forte Collection Naffah gained more than 18 years of experience in strategy and finance roles in the leisure and hospitality industry.
His previous roles include strategy director at Bass PLC/Six Continents PLC where he played a key part in the business planning and performance management of the FTSE 100 Group.
In addition he oversaw the strategic transformation of the Group culminating in the successful demerger of Six Continents hotel and pub divisions.
Following the demerger, Naffah joined Mitchells & Butlers in 2003 as its finance director to establish the pubs group as an independently listed company. He implemented new performance and reporting measures; devised a successful business securitisation model to finance the group; and oversaw the acquisition of 239 pub restaurants in 2006.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Naffah was educated at Harrow School and Lincoln College, Oxford University. He speaks English, French, Arabic and Spanish. Post graduation, Naffah spent seven years with management consultancy Bain & Company.
