As of November 1, 2020, Swiss-born Marcus Bernhardt, who has been associated with the hotel industry for many years through various management positions, will become CEO of Steigenberger Hotels AG/ Deutsche Hospitality.

Mr. Marcus Bernhardt joins from Europcar Mobility Group, where he held the position of Chief Commercial Officer from 2013 to 2016. Following the company's successful IPO in 2015, he became Managing Director for International Business in 2017 and exerted a major influence on the company's expansion. Mr. Bernhardt also held various management positions in the hotel industry in the past and his connections to this sector goes back many years. After graduating from the Hotel Management School in Lucerne and further studies in Lausanne, Fontainebleau and Zurich, Marcus Bernhardt started his career with the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. He was Director of Radisson SAS Brussels as well as COO and Vice President at Rezidor. In 2004 he was appointed Executive Vice President of Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts of Steigenberger Hotels AG.

In 2010, Mr. Bernhardt joined the state-owned airline Gulf Air as new Executive Vice President and Chief Service Officer. Mr. Bernhardt was also a member of the Executive Board of Gulf Hotel Group until he joined Europcar Mobility Group. He is further member of the Advisory Board of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne and the Advisory Board of the Tourism Council of the Canton of Graubünden for many years.

André Witschi, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Steigenberger Hotels AG, explains:

Marcus Bernhardt combines all the qualities we need to massively expand the presence of Deutsche Hospitality in Germany, in Europe and at strategic locations worldwide in the coming years. Such a combination of international networking, excellent industry knowledge and many years of top management experience in three industries makes him the ideal candidate to fill the position of CEO.

In his new position, Mr. Bernhardt succeeds Matthias Heck, who will temporarily lead the company as CEO and CFO as of September 30, 2020.

Regarding his new position, Mr. Bernhardt says:

There is hardly any other European hotel group, apart from Deutsche Hospitality, that offers so much potential in combination with such a wealth of tradition and innovation. I look forward to working with the company's shareholders to develop this potential and together open the next chapter in the development of Deutsche Hospitality.