Establishing the Finance Leadership Team for a Hotel Owner & Operator

The Challenge

HPG Advisory Services partnered with a recognised hotel owner and operator to appoint a Chief Financial Officer following the merger of two hospitality platforms. As the newly integrated business entered its next phase of growth, the appointment was critical to unifying the finance function, establishing a robust financial infrastructure and providing strategic leadership across the newly combined organisation.

The appointment was critical to supporting the transition from institutional ownership, establishing an independent finance function and providing the commercial leadership required to support the business through its next phase of growth.

At a Glance

Client
European Hotel Owner & Operator

Sector
Hotels & Hospitality

Geography
Europe

Platform
Multi-Hotel Owner & Operator

Assignment
Chief Financial Officer

Search Scope
Executive Search

Strategic Challenge

Our client required a commercially focused Chief Financial Officer to join the executive team. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and working alongside the executive leadership team, the successful candidate would play a central role in the day-to-day leadership of the organisation while designing and implementing a finance function capable of supporting future expansion.

Beyond traditional financial management, the appointment required an executive with experience building finance teams, implementing governance and reporting frameworks, developing banking relationships and supporting investment activity across a hospitality real estate platform.

Given the strategic importance of the appointment, the client sought an executive search partner with specialist hospitality expertise and a proven track record of advising hotel owners and investors on senior finance leadership appointments.

Our Advisory Role

HPG Advisory Services conducted a retained executive search, advising the client on the leadership profile required to establish a best-in-class finance function capable of supporting both operational performance and long-term investment objectives.

Our search focused on senior finance executives from hotel owners, operators, hospitality real estate platforms and private equity-backed businesses with experience leading organisations through periods of transformation and growth.

Our assessment focused on executives with:

• Executive leadership experience within hotel ownership or operating businesses.
• A proven track record of building and developing high-performing finance teams.
• Expertise implementing finance, accounting and management information systems.
• Experience establishing governance, financial controls and reporting frameworks within newly formed organisations.
• Strong relationships with lenders, financial institutions and investment partners.
• Commercial capability to support acquisitions, capital investment and long-term asset value creation.
• Experience working alongside Boards, investors and joint venture partners.

Each candidate underwent a comprehensive assessment evaluating technical capability, commercial judgement, leadership style and cultural alignment.

Executive Appointment

HPG Advisory Services successfully appointed a Chief Financial Officer to join the executive leadership team and lead the development of the organisation's finance function.

The successful executive brought significant hospitality finance leadership experience together with a proven ability to build high-performing teams, establish financial infrastructure and support investment-led growth.

Commercial Outcome

The appointment provided the financial leadership required to:

• Build and develop an independent finance organisation.
• Implement governance, financial reporting and internal control frameworks.
• Establish finance, accounting and management information systems.
• Manage Transitional Service Agreements during the separation period.
• Strengthen relationships with banks, lenders and financial institutions.
• Support acquisition activity and investment decision-making.
• Partner with the executive team to maximise portfolio performance and long-term asset value.

The appointment created a robust financial platform capable of supporting future acquisitions, operational excellence and sustainable business growth.

Building on the success of the CFO appointment, the client subsequently partnered with FM Recruitment, part of HPG, to strengthen its wider finance function. Additional appointments included a Director of Finance, further reinforcing the finance leadership team and demonstrating the long-term trusted partnership established between HPG and the client.

Why This Engagement Matters

Building an independent hotel owner and operator requires far more than appointing an experienced finance executive. It demands a strategic leader capable of creating the financial infrastructure, governance and commercial capability that underpin long-term value creation.

This engagement demonstrates HPG Advisory Services' expertise in advising hotel owners, investors and private equity-backed businesses on executive appointments that shape organisational capability and support long-term growth.