Hotel executive moves: Arriba, Azul, NoMad, Outrigger

Here is a compilation of the most critical executive moves of the past week in the hotel investment world, alphabetically (by company):

Arriba names new VP. Scottsdale, Arizona-based Arriba Capital has named Jeffery Cohen as its vice president, origination. Cohen brings more than three decades of experience spanning hospitality operations and structured finance. Most recently, he served as origination manager at The Trefethen Company. He also worked at ZEL Capital Partners. His capital markets career is built on a hospitality operations foundation.

Azul names new SVP. San Diego-based Azul Hospitality Group has promoted Azure Tackert  to senior vice president of marketing. Tackert has been with Azul since 2018 and has served as vice president of Marketing & eCommerce since 2020.

Newmark adds trio of execs. Newmark has expanded its hotels team in London with three senior appointments. Ian Elliott and Agata Janda join as partners on the valuation and advisory team, while Cherise Smith joins as a partner, specializing in hotel and resort consultancy. Elliott brings more than 20 years of sector experience and a decade in development and transactions. Last year, he advised on assets with an aggregate value exceeding £15 billion. He joins from Avison Young where he was head of hotels. He also worked Knight Frank. With more than 15 years’ experience advising on hotel valuations across the U.K. and Europe, Janda’s pan-European background includes leading the hotels team at JLL in Warsaw. She also joins from Avison Young where she was a director. With over two decades of industry experience, Smith brings deep expertise in feasibility studies, market need assessments, operator selection, demand capacity studies and planning support. She joins from Colliers where she was a director.

NoMad promotes chief brand officer. New York City-based NoMad Hotels has promoted Kristen Millar to chief brand officer. Millar has 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry, from leadership roles at New York restaurants, including Eleven Madison Park, to building the brand architecture of NoMad, where she previously served as global brand director.

Outrigger names VP. Honolulu-based Outrigger Hospitality Group has appointed Steve Nickerson as vice president, operations – The Americas. Nickerson most recently served as senior vice president, operations at Midas Hospitality and brings hospitality leadership experience spanning full-service, select-service and extended-stay hotels, including senior operations roles at Sonesta Hotel Corporation and IHG.

Parable names exec. Aliso Viejo, California-based Parable Hospitality has named Tamara Gilbert as corporate director of leisure sales. She has more than 24 years of hospitality sales experience and most recently served as director of corporate and leisure sales at San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo Inn. She also worked at hotels and resorts with Hilton, Fairmont, Omni and Marriott.