Highgate has announced the appointment of Ben Thomas as its new Chief Operating Officer for Europe. In this position, Thomas will oversee the company’s operations across Europe, leading growth initiatives and improving performance across its growing portfolio.

Steve Barick, a principal at Highgate, expressed enthusiasm saying:

“We are delighted to welcome Ben into the Highgate family as our COO for Europe. His expertise and track record of driving operational and commercial excellence make him the right strategic leader to accelerate Highgate’s expansion. His vision and impact will undoubtedly elevate our teams and portfolio to new levels of success.”

Ben Thomas commented on his new position, stating:

“It is an honour to join Highgate at such an exciting time for the company. Highgate’s proven track record lends itself well to the burgeoning hospitality boom we are seeing across Europe, and I look forward to bringing Highgate’s differentiated capabilities to more hotels, cities, and countries throughout the continent.”

A Stellar Resume

Prior to joining Highgate, Thomas served as the Chief Operating and Commercial Officer at Penta Hotels, managing operational and commercial functions for their portfolio of 16 hotels in Europe and Asia. Over an 11-year career at Penta, he held various roles including Cluster General Manager and Regional Director in Frankfurt, eventually becoming the Chief Operating and Commercial Officer.

Thomas has also previously served as COO for the UK and Ireland at Cycas Hospitality. His career encompasses general manager positions across the UK, including roles at Village Hotels and Millennium & Copthorne Hotels.