IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has welcomed IHG veteran Fergus Stewart to the Europe region as Vice President, Luxury Operations.

Fergus will be responsible for operations across IHG’s luxury brands in Europe. The move reflects IHG’s thriving luxury business with the continuing growth of both InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts and Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants. Based in IHG’s Headquarters in Denham, Buckinghamshire, he will report to Stephen McCall, Chief Operating Officer for the region, and form part of the Europe Operations Leadership Team. Stewart has enjoyed a career spanning almost ten years with IHG, having joined in 2008 as General Manager, ANA InterContinental Tokyo. He then became Director of Operations, Thailand and Indochina, before returning to Japan as CEO of the IHG/ANA joint venture and Head of Japan. Most recently, he was based in Dubai as Vice President of Operations for the Middle East, where he was responsible for over 70 hotels across seven countries. Starting his career in London, he has held hotel roles in locations such as Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain and the UK, working for several luxury hotel brands.

Stephen McCall commented: “I am so pleased to welcome Fergus to Europe at such a pivotal time for our InterContinental and Kimpton brands. As we enter in to new and emerging markets with the InterContinental brand and continue to expand Kimpton within Europe, I am confident Fergus is the right person to continue the operational excellence of both brands across the region.”

Fergus Stewart, commented: “InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is where I started my IHG career and I am excited to be able to lead the InterContinental and Kimpton brands at such a dynamic time. With the InterContinental brand continuing to pioneer in luxury travel in emerging destinations such as Ljubljana, the innovations we are leading within the Restaurant & Bar space within both brands, and the growth of Kimpton across the region, there has never been a better time for a new challenge.”