Leadership

Chairman of the Board

Martin R. Smura

As an eminent leader in the hospitality industry, Martin steered top-tier institutions including Kempinski Hotels, Dorint Group, InterContinental and the legendary Hotel Adlon in Berlin, amplifying portfolios and multiplying profits. He is an alumnus of Cornell University and California State University.

The people behind Grand Metropolitan Hotels

Management team

Ramesh Arora

CEO Grand Metropolitan Hotels

Ramesh Arora leads Grand Metropolitan Hotels as CEO. He brings more than four decades of international experience across hotel operations, development and strategic growth. His career includes senior leadership and General Manager roles with Holiday Inn, Renaissance, Sheraton and Forte across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. He served as Managing Director of The Montcalm Hotels Group in London for more than two decades, growing its portfolio from two to 24 hotels.

Patrick A. Wild

Group Legal Counsel

An accomplished attorney and executive in financial services, with notable experience in bank and asset management company establishment across global markets. Over 30 years of leadership as a CEO, Chairman and senior executive including for notable institutions such as UBS, Julius Bär and EY.

Alexey Slesar

Chief Development Officer

Alexey Slesar is a senior international hospitality and real estate executive who brings over twenty years of executive experience in hotel and real estate development, acquisitions and project financing. Alex started his career in the international hospitality sector as Vice President for Development and Acquisitions in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe with Hyatt where he was instrumental for Hyatt in expanding the company’s footprint in the region and was responsible for Hyatt’s highly successful entry to the Russian market with its top brand – Park Hyatt. Alex has been working in key development roles for Fortune 500 companies and has held key positions in major international public and private equity companies in the hospitality sector with direct reporting to companies’ shareholders and the global management leadership.

Corinna Saur

Chief Human Resources Officer

Corinna Saur brings many years of experience in the field of human resources and administration from numerous international hotel companies such as InterContinental, Robinson, and Kameha Grand Zurich to Grand Metropolitan. As VP Human Resources for Kempinski Corinna Saur acted as HR Business Partner to implement the HR vision and strategy.

Rahul Arora

Chief Commercial & Digital Officer

Rahul Arora is a hospitality and digital innovation leader with deep expertise in technology-driven transformation. As Chief Digital Officer and Management Board member of Grand Metropolitan Hotels, he leads the group’s Digital Transformation Initiative, focusing on digital strategy, data-driven guest engagement, and scalable technology systems. Prior to joining GMH, Rahul founded Digital Hotelier, a London-based hospitality technology venture, and later joined the management of Signature Hotel Group following its acquisition by a private equity–backed technology company.

Leonardo M. Smura

Chief Affiliation Officer

Leonardo M. Smura is a hospitality executive with a strong background in corporate affairs, affiliation, and hotel operations. As Chief Affiliation Officer, he combines strategic insight with hands-on operational experience across development, finance, and brand management. He holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management and Business Education from César Ritz Colleges Switzerland and Washington State University and is currently completing his MBA at the University of Derby.

Walter C. Neumann

CEO Vela Hotels

Walter C. Neumann leads Vela Hotels as CEO. A trained hotelier, he has held leadership positions in Germany and internationally with hotel groups including Lindner Hotels and Rocco Forte. He served as Managing Director at Travel Charme and as CEO of Azimut Hotels from 2013 to 2018.

Jacques Oudinot

CEO Martinez Hotels

After graduating from the prestigious Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, Jacques began his career at the iconic Le Meurice in Paris before gaining international experience in Boston, London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sydney. He later led the opening of Rosewood Abu Dhabi and played a key role in the reopening of the legendary Hôtel de Crillon in Paris as Opening Hotel Manager. Today, as Chief Executive Officer of Martinez Hotels, Jacques is responsible for the brand’s strategic development, operational excellence, and growth. With his extensive international experience and passion for hospitality, he is dedicated to creating exceptional guest experiences and shaping the future of the brand.

Marcus Klar

CEO Top International Hotels

With more than 35 years in global hospitality, Marcus began his career at Holiday Inn before moving into sales and quickly advancing into leadership roles. He has consistently combined operational expertise with forward-thinking leadership to shape sustainable growth. Since joining TOP INTERNATIONAL Hotels in 1998, he has been instrumental in transforming the organization’s commercial capabilities—pioneering digital distribution, strengthening international market positioning, and building scalable sales structures. His leadership is defined by a holistic approach, integrating strategy, operations, and partner success to create long-term value across the network. Appointed CEO after 28 years within the organization, he continues to drive innovation, foster strong partnerships, and position TOP INTERNATIONAL Hotels for the future of hospitality.

Esther Dysli

CEO Private Selection Hotels & Tours

Esther Dysli is a highly experienced hospitality executive and entrepreneur with a strong background in marketing, brand development, and strategic leadership. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Private Selection Hotels & Tours, where she has successfully led the company for nearly three decades, shaping it into a well-established brand in the premium leisure travel segment. In addition to her role as CEO, she serves as Delegate of the Board of Directors at TOM Service AG and has contributed as a certified Swiss federal expert in marketing and sales. Her career reflects a deep understanding of tourism, distribution, and brand positioning within the Swiss and international hospitality landscape. Esther Dysli is known for her strong industry network and long-standing expertise in developing authentic travel experiences, with a focus on quality, individuality, and sustainable market positioning.

Candice Berger Käsweber

Chief Brand Development Officer of Voile d’Or

After training in hospitality and marketing, Candice Berger has spent nearly 20 years honing her expertise between the French Riviera and Paris, where she built a strong reputation as a highly respected professional in the luxury hospitality industry. With extensive experience in brand development, marketing, communications, and luxury travel, she has successfully contributed to the growth and positioning of renowned hospitality brands. Today, as Chief Brand Officer of Grand Metropolitan Hotels, Candice is responsible for shaping and strengthening the company’s brand portfolio, overseeing brand strategy, marketing, communications, and guest experience across its diverse collection of hospitality brands. Combining strategic vision with a deep understanding of the luxury travel market, she brings inspiring leadership, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Tatiana Popova

Senior Vice President Finance

Tatiana brings over 15 years of international experience in finance and hospitality. She is a certified ACCA member and holds a Master of Science in Accountancy and Control. Throughout her career, Tatiana has held senior finance leadership positions within international hotel groups across Europe, where she successfully led financial transformation initiatives, implemented major systems such as OPERA Cloud and FairPlanner, optimized reporting processes in line with USALI standards, and managed multi-country finance teams. Her expertise spans financial planning, controlling, cash flow management, audits, ESG reporting, and strategic decision-making support for owners and executive leadership teams.