About

As a seasoned executive with over 20+ years of experience, I have always had a passion for bringing new and innovative ideas to life. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate enough to work with some of the biggest names in the business and have built a vast network of partners, clients, investors, and owners.

I am a true global citizen, having worked in over 40 countries and 20 lifestyle and luxury brands. I have a wealth of experience in business development, operations, marketing, sales, innovation, portfolio acquisition, and brand management. My skills as a team leader have enabled me to motivate and achieve top performance, always seeing things through to completion with a strategic approach to problem-solving and overcoming challenges.

My passion for fostering growth, accelerating start-up companies, and developing new revenue streams in retail, experiences, and membership models for luxury lifestyle brands through strategic innovation and human touch points across multiple digital platforms has earned me recognition from leading industry publications, such as Skift, FastCompany, NY Times.

But my work doesn't end there. I am dedicated to making a positive impact on the world, and have initiated sustainable projects in collaboration with organizations such as UNDP, Equator Initiative, and Pathway to Paris. I served on the advisory board of The Hopenclass, a global curriculum established to give students a creative space to learn, and I am the Chairman of the Board of META Foundation, a non-profit organization that bridges the gap between physical and virtual spaces, art, and fashion for more sustainable ways of living, working, and traveling.

As an award-winning industry leader, a consumer trend-savvy experience architect, and I am always at the forefront of innovative business strategies. I hope to continue inspiring others and making a positive impact on the world for many years to come. Home for us as a family, my wife Maria and our beautiful daughters, is at the moment New York City.

Background

  • Chief Development Officer / Managing Director — Proper Hospitality
    Los Angeles/USA (December 2021 - January 2024)

    Senior Vice President - The Americas & Global Business Innovation
    Design Hotels, Inc. / Marriott International New York/USA (September 2019 – December 2021)

    Vice President - The Americas — Design Hotels, Inc.
    New York/USA (November 2015 – September 2019)

    Regional Director of Marketing - Eastern & Central Europe — Starwood Hotels & Resorts Vienna/Austria (May 2013 - October 2015)

    Regional Director of Sales - Eastern & Central Europe — Starwood Hotels & Resorts Vienna/Austria (April 2011 - April 2013)

    Regional Director of Sales - Central Europe, Spain, South Africa — Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Munich/Germany (November 2009 - March 2011)

    Area Director of Sales & Marketing
    Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Munich/Germany (December 2008 - November 2009)

    Director of Global Sales — Hilton Sales Worldwide
    Frankfurt/Germany (September 2005 - November 2008)

  • Chairman of the Board, META Foundation (2021 - present) A non-profit organization that builds the bridge between physical and virtual spaces to support sustainable growth.

    — Member of the Jury, Hospitality Design Magazine (2021)

    — Co-founder, Collective Innovation (2021 - present) A cultural and artistic think tank promoting cross-industry collaboration to find solutions for societal questions.

    — Award - Virtual Experience Innovation, SKIFT Idea Award (2020)

    — Member of the Advisory Board, The Hopenclass (2020 - 2023) A non-profit organization giving young people access to education.

    — Collaboration with UNDP, Pathway to Paris, Equator Initiative
    Further travel laboratory (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

    — Member of the Jury, Ahead Americas Awards (2019, 2020)

    — Member of the Jury, US Accenture Forbes ConsumerTech Awards (2017)

    — Award - Best EAME Marketing Campaign, Starwood International – Brand launch of Aloft Hotels in Central Europe (2015)

    — Award - Tourism Media Award at ITB, Comité International des Festivals du Film Touristique (2015) Relaunch of the Imperial Hotel Vienna

    — Award - Best International Sales Office, Hilton Hotels & Resorts (2008)

  • — Fluent in English & German
    — Intermediate in Spanish & Japanese

  • PHD – Hospitality Innovation Strategy
    University of Dresden – Dresden/Germany (July 2010 - January 2015)

    Executive Development Program - Managing Complexities
    INSEAD – Fontainebleau/France (June 2013 - December 2013)

    MBA – Change Management & Finance
    IOM – Frankfurt/Germany (March 2004 - May 2007)

    Executive Development Program
    University of Hawai´i – Honolulu/USA (June 2001 - July 2001)

    Bachelor’s Degree
    University of Wilhelmshaven – Wilhelmshaven/Germany (March 1994 - June 1998)

  • — Shaping the future of hospitality
    Panel Discussion – IHIF Investment Forum – Berlin/Germany – May 2022

    — Metaverse for Humanity
    Keynote Speaker – C2 Montreal – Montreal/Canada – October 2021

    — Virtual Sustainable Travel
    Panel Discussion – FastCompany Innovation Festival – New York City/USA – September 2021

    — A Collective Approach to Strategic Innovation
    Keynote Speaker – Chief Innovation Officer Summit – London/UK – May 2021

    — The Evolution of Virtual & Physical Experiences
    Keynote Speaker – SKIFT Design the Future – New York City/USA – November 2020

    — How to develop new models of cooperation in urban development
    Moderator & Speaker – Mind Sparks – Montreal/Canada – September 2020

    — Strategy in a Fast Changing Environment
    Keynote Speaker – Chief Strategy Officer Summit – London/UK – May 2020

    — The Need to Breakthrough: Design, Experience & Human Connection
    Panel Discussion – Fast Company – New York City/USA – November 2019

    — The Dawn of Re-engagement and Transformational Hospitality
    Keynote Speaker – LE Miami Ministry of Ideas – Miami/USA – June 2018

    — Activation of Hospitality Spaces
    Keynote Speaker – Sleeper Magazine Global Developers Summit – New York City/USA – May 2018

    — Evolution of Design and Luxury Experience
    Keynote Speaker – Hotel Projects World Tour – New York City/USA – November 2017

    — A New Generation in Lifestyle Luxury Hospitality
    Panel Discussion – Arena Conference – Lisbon/Portugal – September 2017

    — Travel brand truth for choice, loyalty and experience
    Speaker – Millennial 20/20 – New York City/USA – March 2017

    — Innovation Management in Hospitality
    Book Publication – DeGruyter Publishing House – December 2016

    — Differentiating your hotel from the crowd
    Panel Discussion – Oracle Industry Connect – Orlando/USA – April 2016

    — Digital Innovation in Hospitality
    Keynote Speaker – Future of Hospitality Summit – Les Roches/Switzerland – October 2015

    — The Evolution of Film in Hospitality Industry
    Speaker – Film, Art, Tourism Festival – Warsaw/Poland – June 2015

    — Social Media – Guest Experience in Real-time
    Speaker – Online Marketing, Mobile, Social Media Conference Europe 2014 – Berlin/Germany – October 2014

    — Innovation management in Digital Distribution
    Publication – Journal of Hotel Management – September 2014

    — Hotels and online travel agencies. Does it have to be a Battle?
    Panel Discussion – Young Hoteliers Global Summit 2014 – Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne – Lausanne/Switzerland – March 2014

    — Walk in your key account shoes – What does your client expect from you?
    Speaker – Strategic Key Account Management Conference – Amsterdam/Netherlands – November 2010

    — How to Hire, motivate and retain the best sales people
    Speaker – Travel Distribution Summit Europe – London/UK – June 2010