Hilton has appointed Andreas Lackner as Vice President, Operations, Africa & Indian Ocean (A&IO).

Lackner has a wealth of hospitality experience, including 20 years at Hilton. He will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of Hilton’s portfolio of managed hotels across A&IO, where the company operates 44 properties across eight brands – with another 65 properties currently under development.

Lackner began his hospitality career as a chef in his native Austria, going on to work across all aspects of hotel operations, revenue management and business development.

He has served in a variety of roles in Europe, including most recently as Vice President, Area Brand Management, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) where he was responsible for implementing new product offerings and driving service standards across ten Hilton brands in the EMEA region.

Simon Vincent, Executive Vice President and President, EMEA, Hilton, said: “Andreas is a highly experienced hospitality leader with a track record of driving excellence in hotel operations, strong performance for our owners and a workplace culture where teams can thrive. I am delighted he will be leading our Africa & Indian Ocean portfolio – a vibrant region where Hilton has been proudly delivering hospitality for more than six decades, and where we expect to more than double our portfolio in the coming years.”