Dubai Holding has named Stefan Leser group chief executive of Jumeirah Group, effective from 1 February. Gerald Lawless, who has been Jumeirah’s president and CEO for 18 years, is moving to a new position responsible for tourism and hospitality in Dubai Holding's corporate office.

Lawless is credited with spearheading the expansion of the company’s portfolio, which now includes 23 hotels in 12 destinations, with a pipeline of properties planned in China, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Russia and the UAE. Jumeirah operates the wellness brand Talise, and recently launched a new contemporary lifestyle hotel brand, Venu.

Jumeirah Group also operates more than 100 restaurants, the Wild Wadi Waterpark and the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, where Lawless will remain chancellor. He will also hold the title of honorary president of the Jumeirah Group, and will assume chairmanship of the World Travel & Tourism Council in April.

Leser joins Jumeirah from Swiss travel business Kuoni, where he spent ten years, most recently as executive vice president of its outbound travel and inbound specialist businesses.

“We welcome Stefan Leser as the new group CEO of Jumeirah Group,” said Mohammad Abdulla Al Gergawi, chair of Dubai Holding. “He has a deep understanding of the fast-changing international travel market, which will play an important role in driving Jumeirah’s successful expansion plans both at home and abroad.”