CHI appoints vice president

Geoffrey Breeze has been appointed vice president strategic marketing and brand management for CHI Hotels & Resorts. He will report directly to Tony Potter, CHI CEO.

Mr Breeze will be based in London and will be working very closely with the CHI sales and marketing team, led by senior vice president Glenn Carroll. In the early stages of his appointment, he will be concentrating on further developing CHI's strategies across the brands that it operates and will be particularly focused on the further progression of the Corinthia brand and the Wyndham Grand Collection.

Mr Breeze will be working with the CHI team and the Wyndham team in order to bring about further penetration and development of the Corinthia brand worldwide and the Wyndham, Wyndham Grand Collection and Ramada brands in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

He will also play a crucial role in the positioning, marketing and brand development of the new Corinthia Hotel London, opening in 2010, through close collaboration with the London team and the central and regional teams involved.

Mr Potter said: "I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to secure the appointment of Geoffrey. He has the ideal background, knowledge and experience to ensure that we have the appropriate professional resources and know-how in order to work with our Wyndham colleagues in implementing a successful brand management strategy throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Being based in London will enable Geoffrey to enhance and progress our joint venture activities and assist senior management in fully benefiting from the incremental revenue opportunities that exist in growing both the Corinthia and Wyndham brands."

Mr Breeze's most recent senior marketing positions were at director level with Sabre Travel Networks and Neos Interactive. For 14 years he was the worldwide vice president for the Hilton International Company based in London and responsible for many of Hilton International's successful brand strategies. Throughout a long career in senior marketing positions, he has held successful and senior positions with the Granada Group, Avis Rent-A Car in New York, Gillette and Procter & Gamble, among others.

Mr Breeze is a British citizen and a graduate of the University of Oxford.