Van der Wal Leaves Kempinski Hotels

Kempinski Hotels has made key changes to the company's executive leadership team and a related change to its organisational structure following the decision of chief operating officer, Marcus van der Wal, to leave Kempinski.

Van der Wal reportedly decided to leave Kempinski to prioritise better balance in his life, following a career with the company that started with the hotels he managed in Beijing, Tanzania, Budapest and Munich, through to his tenure as SVP Europe, and his most recent role as COO.

Commenting on his departure in an official statement, Markus Semer, chairman and chief executive officer of Kempinski Hotels, said: "Marcus is a highly-respected hotelier, both within Kempinski and the industry. While we are disappointed to see him go, we respect his decision to find better balance in his life and I would like to sincerely thank Marcus for his significant contributions to Kempinski throughout his career, and wish him the very best as he embarks on this new phase of his life."

Bernold Schroeder has since been appointed as a member of the management board of Kempinski AG; executive director on the board of Kempinski Hotels SA; a member of the management Board of Kempinski Hotels SA; and chief operating officer Europe.

In his role as COO Europe, Schroeder will oversee the portfolio in Europe, with landmark properties including the Hotel Adlon Kempinski and Çirağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul.

Semer commented: "We are delighted to welcome such a well-respected industry leader to the management board of Kempinski. Today there are very few senior executives in the industry who remain true hoteliers at heart and we are privileged to bring Bernold’s high calibre of leadership and luxury hotel operations and asset management know-how to Kempinski."

Schroeder is an industry veteran with more than 30 years in the global hotel industry. He joins Kempinski from his most recent roles as CEO of the Singapore-based hotel owner, Pan Pacific Hotels Group and CEO of Shanghai-based Jin Jiang International. Prior to this, he held senior management positions with Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Corporation.