We are searching for a Chief Investment and Asset Management Officer for a hospitality business based in Dubai that is a part of a leading multinational conglomerate.
Key Responsibility :
1 Global business development and portfolio expansion
- Build and convert a disciplined pipeline of acquisitions, greenfield and brownfield developments, strategic investments, management platforms and new-market opportunities.
- Assess market demand, competitive positioning, brand fit and strategic value.
- Originate opportunities through owners, developers, advisers and investors, and present prioritized recommendations to the Managing Director and Boards.
2 Investment evaluation and commercial diligence
- Lead feasibility studies, valuation, financial modelling, scenario analysis and commercial assessment of new and existing businesses.
- Test investment assumptions, capital requirements, cash generation, return on investment and internal rate of return.
- Coordinate financial, operational, legal, tax and technical diligence with the CFO and advisers; identify downside risks and recommend investment structures, pricing and conditions that protect ownership economics.
3 Transactions and hotel agreements
- Lead acquisition and investment negotiations, including debt, equity and joint venture structures, with sellers, coinvestors, family offices, institutional partners and lenders.
- Negotiate management, franchise, lease, shareholder and related hotel agreements with legal support. Address fees, performance tests, owner rights, funding obligations, reserved matters, exit provisions and remedies.
- Secure approvals, manage closing conditions and coordinate funding execution with the CFO.
4 International asset management and operating performance
- Lead assigned regional owner teams and hold operators and property leaders accountable through agreed governance.
- Review business plans, budgets, forecasts and results against the investment case and market benchmarks.
- Drive revenue, productivity, guest experience, profitability and cash conversion.
- Track occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, GOPPAR, EBITDA, NOI and investment returns, as relevant; resolve underperformance through regular reviews and accountable action plans.
5 Asset enhancement and capital deployment
- Lead value-enhancement plans covering repositioning, brand or operator changes, refurbishment, cost restructuring, refinancing and selective divestment.
- Evaluate capital expenditure against expected benefits, returns and funding capacity with the CFO.
- Monitor approved budgets, delivery milestones and realized outcomes.
- Oversee post-acquisition integration or mobilization, ensuring operating assumptions, synergies and investment commitments translate into results with the relevant regional business owner.
6 Operator partnerships and ownership governance
- Represent the company in assigned boards, owner committees and strategic forums.
- Align operators, brands and joint venture partners on strategy, budgets, key appointments, service and brand standards, capital requirements and performance obligations.
- Translate agreements into measurable KPIs and review routines.
- Resolve escalated commercial or contractual issues; maintain records of decisions, commitments and corrective actions within approved authority, funding and reporting frameworks.
7 Compliance and portfolio risk
- Own commercial and contractual compliance for transactions and assigned international assets, working with legal, local management and the CFO on regulatory requirements, licences, approvals and obligations.
- Identify investment, counterparty, operating and geopolitical risks, with named mitigation owners.
- Coordinate financial, foreign exchange, interest-rate, insurance, tax and audit exposures with the CFO.
- Apply delegated authority, transparent conduct and timely escalation of material issues.
Skills & Qualification :
- Chartered Accountant or MBA, preferably in Finance, Strategy or a related discipline, with minimum 18 years experience in hospitality investments, business development, mergers and acquisitions or owner-side asset management.
- Demonstrated success in originating, evaluating, negotiating and closing investments, followed by improving asset performance and returns across international markets.
- Strong command of hotel agreements, commercial diligence, valuation, capital structures and investor negotiations, with the ability to challenge operators and manage advisers.
- Sound commercial judgment, negotiation skills and board-level communication; able to lead across cultures,protect ownership interests and travel extensively.