Kempinski Hotels Strengthens Executive Team with New CFO and Chief Product Officer

Strategic Leadership Appointments Signal Next Phase of Growth for the Luxury Hotel Group

Global luxury hospitality brand Kempinski Hotels has expanded its executive leadership team with two key appointments aimed at strengthening financial strategy and guest experience innovation. The company has named Gordon Drake as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Rasha Lababidi as Chief Product Officer (CPO) as part of a broader transformation strategy under the leadership of Group Chief Executive Officer Barbara Muckermann.

The new appointments are intended to support Kempinski’s long-term growth plans, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen the brand’s global position in the luxury hospitality market.

Gordon Drake Takes Charge as Chief Financial Officer

Gordon Drake joins Kempinski Hotels as Chief Financial Officer, bringing more than 30 years of international experience in hospitality, real estate, and financial management. In his new role, he will oversee the company’s global financial strategy, including financial planning, performance management, capital allocation, and risk assessment.

Drake will also work closely with the executive leadership team to support strategic investments, optimise financial resources, and ensure sustainable profitability across Kempinski’s international portfolio.

Before joining Kempinski, Drake served as Chief Executive Officer of The Doyle Collection, where he helped strengthen operational performance and guide the company through industry recovery following the pandemic. His earlier career includes senior leadership roles with several major hospitality organisations such as Kingdom Hotel Investments, Six Senses Hotels, Resorts & Spas, Westmont Hospitality Group, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, and The Savoy Hotel.

A British national, Drake holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Bristol and is a qualified Chartered Accountant as well as a member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.

He succeeds Stuart Dickie, who previously served as Kempinski’s Chief Financial Officer and will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity while representing the brand on various industry boards.

Rasha Lababidi Appointed Chief Product Officer

Kempinski Hotels has also introduced a newly created executive position by appointing Rasha Lababidi as Chief Product Officer. In this role, she will lead initiatives related to product innovation, brand design, concept development, and guest experience enhancement across Kempinski’s global portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts.

Lababidi brings over 25 years of experience in marketing strategy, brand development, hospitality innovation, and corporate transformation within the luxury hospitality and real estate sectors.

Prior to joining Kempinski, she held senior leadership roles at Emaar and Al Maabar International Investments, where she contributed to brand development and marketing strategy for large-scale real estate and hospitality projects.

She is also the co-founder of Meraki & Modus, a concept development and strategy consultancy focused on luxury lifestyle destinations. The firm has delivered more than 150 hospitality and destination concepts across multiple international markets.

Lababidi holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University and a Master of Science from the University of Surrey.

Supporting Kempinski’s Global Transformation Strategy

The appointments of Drake and Lababidi reflect Kempinski’s commitment to strengthening its executive leadership structure as the company continues to evolve its global operations.

With a heritage spanning more than 127 years, Kempinski remains one of the world’s oldest luxury hospitality brands. The company operates a portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

The newly strengthened leadership team is expected to play a key role in guiding Kempinski’s next phase of strategic development, focusing on financial performance, product innovation, and delivering exceptional guest experiences in the competitive luxury hospitality market.