KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 17, 2018 — Sunway Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality division of Malaysian conglomerate Sunway Group, today announced the appointment of Andre Scholl as Chief Executive Officer to lead the company's growth strategy, drive operational efficiency and oversee the next phase of development for the hotel group.
Scholl is a hospitality industry professional with over 30 years of leadership experience, having worked for global hotel groups after starting his career in Switzerland. A Swiss national, Scholl brings diverse international exposure, sound business acumen and successes in leading multiple city and resort properties, in addition to stand-alone and mixed-use city-centre developments in primary and secondary cities across Asia and Europe. His proven leadership and operational experience in the hospitality sector including his ability to improve profitability, turn around assets and build cohesive teams will be valuable for Sunway as it looks to strengthen and expand its position in Malaysia and regionally.
"It is a privilege to be leading Sunway Hotels & Resorts at this exciting time. As we move towards achieving Sunway's new vision of becoming Asia's model corporation in sustainable development by innovating to enrich lives for a better tomorrow, I am confident we will be able to build on the success and lead Sunway Hotels & Resorts through the next phase of the group's operational excellence, development and growth," said Scholl.
Scholl brings sound business and financial acumen, providing strategic directions for planned hotel expansions, renovations, new openings and re-development, including re-engineering of operating business models in changed socio-political and economic landscapes. With a keen focus on staff development and guest experience, Scholl's life-long immersion is anchored on the belief in taking care of staff, staff will in turn take care of the guests and the business will take care of itself.
In his new capacity as Chief Executive Officer, Scholl will be responsible for Sunway Hotels & Resorts' 11 hotels and resorts in Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam, which represents over 3,300 guestrooms, suites, serviced residences and luxury villas; and a multitude of convention, meeting and exhibition facilities.
His immediate focus is to steer the company's strategy, enhance its operational excellence and support the future growth of its properties; maximising the potential of the brand's footprint especially in the traditional and new markets, and to achieve greater yield.
Scholl's previous role before joining Sunway Hotels & Resorts was the Group Senior Vice President of Operations for Regent Hotels & Resorts where he was responsible for the brand's operations for its hotels in Taipei, Beijing, Berlin, Porto Montenegro and Chongqing; and steered the group's new hotel developments in Harbin, Jakarta, Phu Quoc and Boston.
Prior to that, he served as the Vice President – Group Operations and subsequently as Chief Operating Officer for the Marco Polo Hotels, where he was responsible for all 13 Marco Polo Hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Philippines. He also led the team in the design development and renovation of its new premium hotel collection, Niccolo by Marco Polo.
Scholl has held numerous senior leadership positions for leading luxury international hotels throughout Asia, Middle East and Europe, with brands like Shangri-La, Conrad, Mandarin Oriental and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. He attained his professional qualification from Australia's RMIT University in Business Administration.
