Saraya Holdings, a leading real estate development and asset management company in the Middle East, has appointed Samih Barbir as general manager of Saraya Sochi - an ambitious mixed-use tourist destination located in the Russian resort city of Sochi.

Noting that the appointment had come at a crucial point in the company’s global expansion, Ali Kolaghassi, vice chairman and CEO of Saraya Holdings, said: “Samih brings a wealth of experience in the travel and tourism industry, having held a variety of important positions with leading multinationals in culturally diverse environments. His strong expertise in building high-performing executive teams and his ability to translate conceptual models into specific growth strategies will prove invaluable as we seek to establish a presence in Russia and turn Saraya Sochi into a world-class luxury tourist destination.”

A graduate in Business Administration with a double major in Finance and Marketing, Barbir's experience ranges from managing joint ventures and strategic business partnerships to leading entities with sophisticated products and services. He was until recently in charge of business development at Vocalpad International, Beirut. –TradeArabia News Service