Johannes Van Der Putten will become Hilton Worldwide’s vice president for Africa and Indian Ocean leading operations across the continent with a key focus to support the company’s ambitious business expansion strategy.
Based in Johannesburg, he will also be responsible for business operations of the Hilton Sandton.
A seasoned industry professional, Van Der Putten has over 25 years extensive operational experience with Hilton Worldwide across a number of countries including Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Malta, Malaysia as well as Ethiopia in Africa where he spent two years as General Manager at Hilton Addis Ababa in 1992.
He is a graduate of the prestigious Lausanne Hotel & Hospitality Institute and has acted as an adviser on the International Hospitality Advisory Board.
Van Der Putten joins the company’s MEA senior team from The Netherlands where he was area general manager Benelux with responsibility for nine hotels.
Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Middle East and Africa said: “This is a key appointment for the company and I’m delighted that someone of Johannes’ talent and background will head such an important region for the company. Hilton Worldwide enjoys a proud pioneering reputation in Africa and Johannes’ experience will be vital as we continue to set industry standards in quality, service and in developing new opportunities.”
Van Der Putten added: “We have opened a number of hotels in Africa and Indian Ocean in the past two years and I’m looking forward to continuing that pace of progress with further openings and signings planned across several new markets in the future.”
