citizenM, the Dutch-based hospitality group, today announced the appointment of Frits van Paasschen, ex-CEO of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts Group, to its advisory board.

A seasoned global executive, Van Paasschen (1961, dual Dutch and US nationalities) has deep knowledge of the FMCG and service industries; as well as having worked with Starwood Hotels and Coors Brewing Company he has also held several management positions at Nike, ultimately becoming Nike's President of Europe, Middle East, and Africa. This year saw the publication of his book The Disruptors' Feast: How to Avoid Being Devoured in Today's Rapidly Changing Global Economy, a unique look into the trends that are shaping the world of the future from digital technology, and global development to urbanization, and business disruption. As well as advising citizenM on its global development strategy, Van Paasschen also advises a number of tech companies in the Netherlands and the US.

Rattan Chadha, founder and CEO of citizenM said

"We've enjoyed a remarkable success with the citizenM model and are now pursuing a strategy of vigorous growth in Europe, the USA and Asia. With his background and experience in hospitality and his understanding of technology trends, we know that Frits van Paaschen will prove an enormous asset to us, providing strategic advice on our future development and progress. As a disruptive brand ourselves, we like to work with those who favour innovation and change and we are delighted to have an executive of his calibre on our board."

About citizenM

citizenM was launched in 2008 with a purpose – to disrupt the traditional, stale hotel industry. Rattan Chadha – the founder of the global fashion brand Mexx – was inspired by his employees to create a hotel for today’s frequent travellers, giving them everything they need and nothing they don’t. This means central locations in the world’s most exciting cities, but at an affordable price. Not just a place to sleep, but somewhere to work, relax and play – just like home. Somewhere with superfast free Wi-Fi, tech that makes life easy, and world-class art that isn’t ‘hotel art’. A room with an ultra-comfortable XL bed to crash in, and a powerful rain shower to wake-up in. Rattan Chadha called this ‘affordable luxury for the people’. The first citizenM opened at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in 2008. As of November 2023, citizenM’s portfolio has 33 hotels in 20 exciting cities: London, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Rome, Zurich, Geneva, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Menlo Park, Taipei and Kuala Lumpur.

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