Appointments

CitizenM bolsters senior team

Dutch lifestyle and hotel brand CitizenM has made two new appointments as it looks to continue on its growth path. 

Hendrik Jan Roel joins as the company’s new chief financial officer and Ernest Lee is promoted to the brand’s first-ever global chief growth officer. 

Roel will join CitizenM on May 1 after 22 years at Dutch retailer Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V. where he most recently (since 2014) served as CFO & EVP of Albert Heijn, Etos and Gall&Gall. 

Lee, who previously served as CitizenM’s managing director for the Americas, begins his new role this month.

What They Said

Klaas van Lookeren Campagne, CEO of CitizenM, said: “Despite the challenges of the pandemic, CitizenM has seen remarkable success, continuing to open hotels, secure new deals, and recruit and elevate top talent throughout this period, all of which are testament to our unique position as a brand on an industry level and beyond. With the continued support of our investors and key leaders and the addition of strong talent like Hendrik Jan to our team, we can confidently pursue our ambitious growth and development plans.”

Hendrik Jan Roel said: “Of course you don't take lightly the decision to switch to another company when you are CFO at Albert Heijn, but CitizenM fits very well with my passion for travel, hotels and design. With my knowledge and experience in retail, I will be able to add a lot in terms of improving financial management, performance, value creation and the quality of financial processes - appropriate for a company that has long since passed the start-up phase. I am really looking forward to doing this together with the CitizenM team, and realizing the growth plans.”

Ernest Lee said: “With our development portfolio quite advanced now, particularly with the number of hotels opening in the U.S., this is a logical time to shift focus from our real estate arm to the operating business. The hotel industry is still very traditional, especially when it comes to its business model, product, distribution and marketing. CitizenM was created with a disregard for convention and constantly adopts ideas and best practices from other industries, especially technology. The introduction of this new position is no different. I look forward to collaborating with all our creative, diverse and talented teams to develop new ways to help accelerate and improve our operating business.”