Hilton has named Jonathan Witter as chief customer officer. In this new role, Witter will oversee the global brands, marketing, loyalty & partnerships, IT, and strategy teams. Witter comes from Capital One Financial Corporation, where he worked as president of retail and direct banking.
Here’s a look at other notable comings and goings that took place this week:
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park has appointed Winfred van Workum as general manager. Workum comes from The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami, where he worked as hotel manager. The company has also named James Bardwell as public relations & communications manager. In this role, Bardwell will manage the hotel’s communications efforts.
Benchmark, a global hospitality company, has named Tobby Rau director of operations for The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando. Rau has managed a variety of large-scale operations and brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience to his new position. BENCHMARK has also named Kristina Turner as director of marketing for the Villas of Grand Cypress, a Gemstone Collection property, and The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando.
New York Hilton Midtown has appointed Diarmuid Dwyer as general manager. Dwyer has been a member of the Hilton family for over a decade, including a 13-year tenure at the Waldorf Astoria New York.
OutMatch, a leader in helping organizations match the right people with the right jobs, has appointed Zach Birkelbach as vice president of client success. In his new role, Birkelbach will work with clients to understand their challenges in an effort to deliver proper selection and employee development. With more than 15 years of experience in HCM client relations, Birkelbach most recently worked as director of customer success for Infor.
Omni Amelia Island Plantation resort, located in Northeastern Florida, has named Mike Block as director of golf. In this role, Block will oversee all aspects of the resort’s gold experience and two championship courses.
Empire Resorts, Inc. has appointed Ryan Eller as president and chief operating officer of Empire. In his new role, Eller will oversee the development of the company’s resort casino in Sullivan County, N.Y. and the company’s operations at the Monticello Casino and Raceway.
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa has named Katherine Beja-McLennan as the resort’s new director of sales and marketing. Bringing more than 25 years of experience, Beja-McLennan will oversee all group and catering sales, convention services, marketing, and public relations efforts for the El Yunque National Rainforest and the Mameyes River.
