The Rezidor Hotel Group, the leading international operator in Russia & CIS, has appointed David Jenkins as Vice President Business Development Russia & CIS, effective 14th September 2015. David joins Rezidor from Jones Lang Lasalle Hotels & Hospitality Group where he served as Executive Vice President Russia & CIS. He succeeds industry veteran Arild Hovland who retires from his full time role at the end of 2015 after a 27-years career with Rezidor. Arild will continue to act as exclusive advisor to Rezidor’s Chief Development Officer in the forthcoming years. David will be based at the group’s Area Support Office in Moscow and report directly to Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer Elie Younes. David started his international career in hotel operations in London and Moscow before he joined Horwarth HTL in 2006 as Director Russia to open and establish the company’s Russian office. In 2008, he was appointed DTZ’s Director and Head of Hospitality Russia & CIS leading hotel and resort advisory projects all across the region. He became Partner and Head of Hospitality at Cushman & Wakefield Moscow in 2010, and finally joined Jones Lang Lasalle in 2013 as Executive Vice President Russia & CIS. At Rezidor, David will be responsible for designing and executing the group’s ambitious growth strategy in Russia & CIS together with two strong executives, Darren Blanchard and Maria Znova. “The team in Moscow will in the future also conduct our business development in the Balkan states, and I am pleased to announce that Darren Blanchard will take on this additional responsibility for our growth in these promising markets”, said Elie Younes.