IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has appointed Douglas Martell to the role of Vice President Operations, South West Asia, effective from mid-September 2012. Douglas succeeds Chris Moloney, who is retiring after 30 years with the company.

As Vice President Operations, South West Asia, Douglas will be responsible for the overall operations of the company across India, Bangladesh and Nepal, reporting to Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East and Africa.

Douglas has been with IHG since 2001, during which time he has held various operational roles across Australia, Japan and Greater China.  His most recent role has been Vice President Food & Beverage and Operations for the company's Greater China region, based in Shanghai.

Chris Moloney joined IHG in 1983 and has been based in Delhi for nearly two years. Chris was formerly IHG's Chief Operating Officer for Japan and Korea and Chief Executive of the company's IHG ANA joint venture in Japan. Prior to that he ran the Middle East and Africa region and early in his career worked in a number of hotels across the UAE, USA, UK, France and Oman. 

Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East and Africa, said, "Chris has made a lasting impact on the company and we have truly valued his leadership over the years. During his 30 years with IHG, he has expertly combined being a first class operator, delivering strong performance, with growing and developing the next generation of leaders. His contribution over the years has been invaluable and we wish him an enjoyable retirement. In Douglas, we have a leader with great international experience and a strong focus on opening and operating hotels in fast growing markets. We're very pleased Douglas will be coming to the region to lead the team."

IHG has 13 open hotels across 10 cities in South West Asia, operating under the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands.  The company has a further 47 hotels in the region's development pipeline, due to open over the next three to five years, including the first Holiday Inn Express in the region, opening later this year in Ahmedabad.

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For further information please contact:

Emma Corcoran
Communications Director, India, Middle East and Africa
Mobile: +971 (0) 50 655 2207
Office: + 971 (0) 4 213 6069  
Email: emma.corcoran@ihg.com

Notes to Editors:
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with nine hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, as well as our two newest brands, EVENTM Hotels and HUALUXETM Hotels & Resorts. IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 65 million members worldwide.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,500 hotels and more than 661,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories. With more than 1,000 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG expects to recruit around 90,000 people into additional roles across its estate over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

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