Langham Hospitality Group announced recently the appointment of Robert Warman as chief executive officer, succeeding Brett Butcher, who is retiring from the company.

　　Langham Hospitality Group announced recently the appointment of Robert Warman as chief executive officer, succeeding Brett Butcher, who is retiring from the company. Warman, a native of Chicago, becomes the first American to lead Hong Kong-based Langham.

　　"The group has a stable of respected brands, each of which is ripe for expansion into new markets,” Warman said. “I look forward to working with the team to further develop and grow the company worldwide while delivering superior guest satisfaction and financial operating results.”

　　Warman, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from DePaul University in Chicago, has more than 33 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently, he served as president and chief operating officer of Capella Hotel Group, as well as co-chairman of the Capella Asia board, providing strategic guidance in the operations and property acquisition activities. Warman spearheaded all hotel owner relations for Capella Hotel Group, solicited new management contracts and established the quality improvement process for both customers and employees since he joined the company in 2001.

　　Prior to that, Warman had served for 18 years in various operational and executive roles at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. At its formation, he joined the luxury hotel group as a rooms executive and rose up the ranks to general manager positions. He was promoted to oversee rooms operations on the corporate level as vice president, and he later worked in conjunction with the chairman of the board in soliciting prospective buyers for The Ritz-Carlton, resulting in the sale to Marriott International in 1995.

　　As the wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings, Langham Hospitality Group currently owns and/or manages 22 hotels under The Langham, Langham Place, and Eaton brands with more than 30 hotel projects currently confirmed or in a developed stage of negotiations.