The Middle East and Africa (MEA) division of Marriott International has named Alex Kyriakidis, a top global executive at Deloitte, as the president and managing director of the division, effective January 1, 2012.

With 33 hotels in 10 countries, the MEA division is poised for major growth. Approximately 40 hotels are in Marriott’s hotel development pipeline in the region and plans include significant new development in sub-Saharan African markets, the hotel said in a statement. 

Fluent in Arabic, English and Greek, Kyriakidis will lead Marriott’s team in the MEA, one of the company’s four continental operating divisions. He will oversee all aspects of the division’s business activities, including operations, sales and marketing, finance and hotel development.

The company’s other continental divisions are the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, the statement said.

Arne Sorenson, Marriott’s president and chief operating officer, said: “Kyriakidis brings exceptional business acumen, deep expertise in lodging, and focus on growth with a global mind set. He is the perfect leader to drive and manage our growth in the region.”

In his current position at Deloitte, he led a team of 4,500 in a division that generates $700 million in revenue.  His wide-ranging, 38-year career extends to 25 countries, with a particular focus on the European, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific regions, and involves broad experience in strategic and financial planning, mergers and acquisitions and asset management. – TradeArabia News Service