Meet our team
Marloes Knippenberg CEO Kerten Hospitality
Marloes is the visionary who has established Kerten Hospitality as a disruptive, dynamic international hospitality group dedicated to the management of mixed-use developments in global destinations. She has successfully grown the organization’s operational and pipeline portfolio from one brand in one country to 11 aspirational lifestyle-driven concepts in 35 development projects across 3 continents. Her industry journey started with Hilton where she held senior operational and commercial management positions for over a decade. She sits on a number of industry boards and supports the Sustainability Hospitality Challenge as a co-chair of the global initiative.
Wafik Youssef COO Kerten Hospitality
Yeshwant Desai Board Advisor
A veteran Middle East professional who has spent more than 40 years in the financial services industry, Yeshwant Desai is a Board Advisor to Kerten. He started his career in commercial banking and moved to the Middle East in 1975. In 1985, he joined Bank Muscat in Oman where he laid the groundwork for the company’s success. During his time as CEO of the bank, Yeshwant was heavily involved in mergers and acquisitions as well as overseas expansion initiatives. An astute businessman, he has actively advised leading private investors and institutions in Oman.
John Brennan Senior Advisor Kerten Hospitality
John Brennan is a seasoned hospitality leader with a global track record of successes in hotel investment and hotel operations. John has held leadership roles across big hospitality organisations and in recent years has been an advisor to multiple Private Equity groups on some of Europe’s flagship industry transactions.
John started his career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts during his 23 years with Four Season John worked in 12 different hotels in 7 countries, in a variety of roles including General Manager and Regional Vice-President.
In 2007 John joined Quinlan Private as Director of Hospitality marking the start of his career with Private Equity sponsors which continues to this day.
As a CEO of Jurys Inn Group, he repositioned the brand, increased the roomkeys by 30%, right-sized the cost base and created a market-leading hotel management platform, before leading its successful sale in 2015.
Working with Lone Star Funds he established and became CEO of Amaris Hospitality (2015-2018), the company grew to comprise 89 hotels, over 14,000 rooms and 8,000 employees; the business was subsequently sold to a range of international investors realising over £1.7 billion for its owners.
Currently, John is non-Executive Chairman of leading hotel investment and management group, Klarent Hospitality and is also Founder and MD of Cloudbrook Partners, a boutique investment and advisory firm.
Sanam Khan Group General Counsel
Group General Counsel of Kerten has 13 years’ experience in the legal services industry, and is specialized in Corporate and Commercial Law, Succession, International Arbitration and Compliance. Qualified in Law from BPP Law School, London, she is fluent in local laws and regulations in the UAE, and the legal frameworks and practices in the GCC. Her advisory areas include cryptocurrencies, international insurance, company restructuring, distribution agreements, joint ventures, franchising and business setup, in addition to providing pre-litigation counsel and structuring transactions.
Mishary Alhajery Country Director KSA
Mishary Alhajery is a prominent Riyadh-based real estate owner who has developed multiple hospitality projects in the past and who is an avid advocate for value-driven partnerships with organisations such as Monshaat, the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, SAGIA and innovative drivers of the Smart City infrastructure. He is not only steering the growth of Kerten’s projects in Saudi Arabia, he has been proactively building communities around mixed-use projects.
Antony Doucet Brand and Marketing Director
Since the birth of the group, Antony has been involved, and led, the development of all 100% owned brands. He has been part of the opening of Hyatt Park Paris, editor of the Louis Vuitton City guide and has always been responsible for community build. One of Antony’s focus points is building communities and connecting people, which is essential to deliver successful mixed-use products.
Velina Nacheva Head of Communications
Velina is a communications, PR and marketing professional with over 15 years’ of experience across the Middle East, Canada and Eastern Europe as part of global agencies, international media outlets and in-house marketing and communications teams. She is a synergies creator, an offline networker and a corporate storyteller with a passion for all things hospitality, aviation and travel. If she is not reading a book by the sea, she could be seen watching documentaries or setting personal and industry benchmarks.
Jaume Puigdengolas Corporate Executive Chef
Michelin Star Chef Jaume Puigdengolas is the man behind the creation and development of the company’s growing portfolio of current and future F&B concepts. He has been Head Chef in numerous restaurants in Spain and has a vast experience in the Middle East.
Eman Fallatah Country Director – Nakhati
Chef Eman Fallatah is a Saudi foodpreneur and the heart and soul of Kerten Hospitality’s Nakhati brand – a premium gelato concept with a Purpose. Armed with a decade of culinary experience across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chef Eman has supported the launch and growth of multiple businesses and projects led by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Higher Education, Almarai and the Dirriya Gate’s Biennale.
Her passion for food has taken her to the culinary world in 2010 – the space she feels happiest to thrive in and grow. Next is her passion for the young generation of cooks and chefs that she mentors. In the last 3 years, Chef Eman has developed multiple restaurant concepts across Saudi Arabia. Previously, she has been a food stylist supporting local and international brands enter the market. A life in the day for her ranges from 16-hour food photoshoots, to concept development, innovation on plates and developing young talent.
Charles Clements Director F&B
Karolina Krol Group Revenue Manager
Mina Anziani Group Special Projects
A hospitality professional with over 15 years of experience, Mina Anziani is in charge of Kerten Hospitality’s Group Special Projects supporting the overall company strategy and new operational projects.
Mina’s previous role was as part of the Hospitality and Tourism team of PricewaterHouseCooper (PwC) in Zurich where she worked across different geographical regions for independent and major hotel operators supporting a footprint of multiple projects and brands.
Mina’s career started at Shaza Hotels, a venture of Kempinski Hotels, where she contributed to the development and growth of the brand in the Middle East. Her last position with the Group was as a Director of Pre-Openings. Mina’s passion for the creation of hospitality journeys and curated guest experiences have been a key asset in each of her roles.
Maria Bou Eid The House Mixed-Use General Manager
A hospitality professional who joined the industry space over 15 years ago in different capacities having worked with small, family business as well as big hospitality chains and part of hotel groups in Lebanon, Qatar and the GCC. In her current role with Kerten Hospitality as a General Manager of The House Hotel Jeddah CityYard, Maria will oversee the organisation’s lifestyle Hotel destination in Jeddah, lead the team on the ground and contribute to the innovative hospitality initiatives at the project that will bring the community together. In her previous roles, Maria has brought to life 3 other pre-opening projects – and admits to always seeking to leave a special print in every place she has worked in and with every person she was on a team.
Figen Caglar General Manager Cloud 7 Residence Ayla Aqaba
Figen has over 25 years in the hospitality industry including 12 years as a Commercial Leader in leadership roles and multinational experience with global chains like Shangri-La, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah and Moevenpick in Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul. Figen is a motivational leader specialised in structuring and positioning hotels with the passion of excellency, developing talent and creating energetic working environments for greater achievements.
Younis Al Dawoodi General Manager
Younis Al Dawoodi is an experienced hospitality professional from the United Arab Emirates who has successfully established impactful commercial relationships with private-public entities, the Government and the local Ministries throughout his 15 years in the local market. He approaches his portfolio with a laser-focus and a strong Business and Commercial approach that ultimately delivers to the bottom line of the organisation. He has a passion for community build, sustainability implementation across the creation of unique projects. He has been instrumental in the Emiratisation strategy introduction and implementation as part of the team in local and international hospitality brands like Hyatt Hotels, Rotana Hotels and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. He holds an MBA in Business Management and Hospitality Management.
Nikoloz Kurdadze GM Old Town Tbilisi
Nikoloz’s first hospitality job as at the age of 18 – an engagement that has become a career choice. He has 10+ years in the industry having worked with local boutique hotels and with international chains like Intercontinental Hotels Group, Accor Hotels, and Louvre hotels group. Has spearheaded 3 hotel openings within his decade in the industry. Has a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Theo Bortoluzzi Business Development Manager
Business Development Manager with over three years’ experience in the hospitality space. Currently, Theo is heading the company’s development in Europe and overlooking the Global Development Team. An honours graduate of the Hospitality University Les Roches Marbella (Spain), Theo has been instrumental in the growth of the Group’s pipeline and the business development task-force in the organization.
Theo spearheaded projects in Europe that help support distressed properties and the larger avenue of hospitality. His most recent achievement is the successful signing of Kerten Hospitality’s first project in Europe – a boutique lifestyle hotel located in the very city centre of Rome. Jointly with the owner Theo is realizing a vision to turn the property into a destination where Romans and travellers connect and build a community based on shared interests whilst delivering return on investment.
Theo has been recognised in the most promising 30Under30 Young leaders in the industry and has been leading the team of young interns as part of the company’s award-winning Remote-ship programme.
Federica Polato Project Director, Nakhati
Federica has lived in the world’s 5 biggest cities on 4 continents: Madrid, London, New York, Tokyo and Dubai. She started her career in banking but soon turned to the world of food, which till date has remained her real passion. She has worked for high-end Italian brands Eataly and Grom, il gelato come una volta where, for the past 10 years, contributing to their expansion strategy, launch and spearhead the entry into new geographies from the Far East to the West.
She started Polato Consulting: a Boutique consultancy agency focused on expansion beyond borders of food concept chains and FMCG retail products. Part of her income she provides to fund projects which support women empowerment through entrepreneurship.
Yasser Arafa Area Director of Finance
Yasser is an accomplished hospitality professional with 20+ years of experience in the hospitality industry with renowned global chains in the Middle East. He has a vast senior level experience in managing luxury hotel properties and achieving the highest standards in operational excellence, financial performance, and guest satisfaction. A seasoned finance professional with a proven track record of working in multiple pre-opening and operating projects, setting up all processes, systems, policies, procedures, and controls for smooth, compliant and efficient operations. Previously Yasser was the Country Director of Finance for Shaza Hotels, KSA and as part of renowned organizations like Emaar Properties and Kempinski Hotels & Resorts.
Tancredi Graf Von Rex Business Development and Operations Executive
Ramamurthy Thevar Technical & Engineering Project Director
Ramamurthy is a well-qualified and experienced Engineer, very well versed with Hotels, Hospitals, Schools and other engineering industries where he corelates with Human living spaces and advises on all Technical and Engineering areas for all projects in Kerten Hospitality’s portfolio. He holds extensive knowledge and has years of experience specifically on Hotels in designs verifications, operations and maintenance. His expertise is also enhanced by many folds as he is a certified 6 Sigma coach black belt having practiced 6 sigma in Starwood Hotels and Resorts worldwide – where the “Pursuit for Perfection” has been practiced. Before joining Kerten Hospitality, he was with Starwood Hotels and Resorts as a Regional Director of Engineering for the Middle East, Africa, CIS countries and Saudi Arabia-based hotels.
Nawal Khamis Ouspace Manager, Madinah Road
