Belmond appoints Dan Ruff as CEO

Luxury hospitality group Belmond has appointed Dan Ruff, who has been chief operating officer of the brand since 2018, as its new CEO, effective 1 July 2023.

He succeeds Roeland Vos, who was at the helm of the company for the past eight years.

Vos will continue his role as chairman of the board of Belmond Ltd and as such will be available to provide support to the organisation on specific projects or advisory topics.

With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ruff has led Belmond’s strategic focus on operational, commercial and property excellence over the past five years, “guiding the teams through the challenges of the pandemic from which Belmond has emerged stronger than ever”.

Prior to joining Belmond, Ruff held senior roles at Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Wyndham Hotel Group across operations, asset management, and mergers and acquisitions, and served on the Supervisory Board of Design Hotels AG.

He began his career at Credit Suisse First Boston in the investment banking division.

Dan Ruff will be reporting directly to Stéphane Rinderknech, chairman and CEO of LVMH Hospitality Excellence. He will continue to be based in London where he lives with his family.

Ruff said: “I’m truly honoured to become CEO of this extraordinary company, with its passionate and genuine people, and legendary properties. Together, we will continue to strive to offer incomparable travel experiences to our guests, and become the world’s most desirable luxury travel brand.”

Vos added: “I’m very pleased to hand over the reins of the company to Dan. I have known him for a very long time. He will provide continuity in the journey for excellence that Belmond is on whilst pushing boundaries. I am convinced that he will succeed in taking the team and the brand to the next level.”