The appointment places a veteran Kempinski executive at the forefront of the group’s global development strategy
By Salina Khuory
Kempinski Group has appointed Noel Attard as its new Chief Development Officer, giving the long-serving executive responsibility for advancing the luxury hospitality group’s international growth strategy.
In his new role, Attard will oversee development opportunities spanning targeted acquisitions, management agreements, branded residences, and new brand launches across priority and emerging markets.
The appointment follows Attard’s tenure as Chief Transformation Officer, a position he took on in early 2025. During that period, he was responsible for developing Kempinski’s business transformation strategy and establishing the foundations for the group’s future development plans.
René Nijhof, Chairman of Kempinski S.A., said Attard was well positioned to take the development strategy forward, given his extensive experience with the company and his understanding of the international luxury hospitality sector.
“As the author of our development strategy, Noel is uniquely positioned to step in and oversee its end-to-end execution, continuing his efforts to strengthen Kempinski’s luxury proposition through disciplined expansion,” Nijhof said.
He added that Attard’s long-standing track record with Kempinski, relationships with owners and investors, and understanding of the changing luxury hospitality landscape would support the group as it identifies and pursues new opportunities.
Attard has been with Kempinski for 20 years, holding positions across operations, finance, and corporate functions. His experience includes trading entity management, group-level strategic planning, and involvement in the openings of Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square in Vilnius, Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz in Gozo, and Kempinski Hotel Adriatic in Croatia.
He also spent more than a decade as Chief Executive Officer of Kempinski Trading DMCC in Dubai. Earlier in his career, he held financial controller and general manager positions within the group.
Commenting on his new role, Attard said the next phase would focus on identifying immediate opportunities while maintaining continuity with Kempinski’s heritage and established portfolio.
“This next phase is about capturing immediate opportunities while ensuring seamless continuity with our brand heritage and portfolio of storied hotels across the world,” Attard said.
“We have built a robust roadmap that is true both to Kempinski’s storied history and its growth-forward trajectory, and our priority is to execute that plan in full alignment with our core values to deliver the results we are known for.”
Kempinski currently operates 74 hotels and residences across 33 countries, with more than 21 additional projects under development.
The group described Attard’s internal appointment as a natural progression in the execution of its broader strategic development plans, as Kempinski continues to expand its presence in selected international luxury hospitality markets.
