Ralph Aruzza
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
ralph.aruzza@rosewoodhotels.com
T: 214.880.4232
EXECUTIVE BIOS
Radha Arora - President
Mr. Arora was named President of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in September 2011. He brings 30 years of luxury hospitality leadership experience to his role, including serving in top positions at some of the world’s finest and most celebrated luxury hotels. Mr. Arora joins the company from Four Seasons, where he was a 16-year veteran. His most recent position was Regional Vice President and General Manager of the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel, as well as presiding over Four Seasons properties in the western U.S. and South Pacific. In his role as President, Mr. Arora leads the operation of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and oversees the company’s growth efforts, which includes doubling the number of properties currently under management and expanding into new markets, including Asia. Mr. Arora received a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland.
Robert Boulogne - Chief Operating Officer
Robert Boulogne was appointed COO in 2005 and has been instrumental in the growth and management of, as well as the service delivery within, the Rosewood collection. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Boulogne served four years as Rosewood's Vice President of Sales & Marketing, a position for which he combined his knowledge of the hospitality industry with his experience in marketing and technology services. Mr. Boulogne's initiatives in sales and marketing included re-engineering many key functions of the company, including reservations, sales tracking and customer relationship management. He also launched the new Rosewood branding strategy and advertising campaign. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Boulogne was Vice President of the Americas for Rezsolutions, a hotel industry distribution solutions software company. He also co-founded Sterling Hotels & Resorts, which provided sales, marketing and reservation services to independent luxury hotels and resorts worldwide. Mr. Boulogne started his hospitality career with Four Seasons Hotels as Director of Marketing and Regional Director of Sales for Four Seasons Hotels in New York City and spent seven years in various senior sales and marketing positions in Texas and New York. Mr. Boulogne received a BS in business administration from Bryant University.
Ernest Glidden - Senior Vice President of Finance
A certified public accountant with a BA in hotel administration from the University of New Hampshire and MA in accounting from DePaul University, Mr. Glidden brings extensive knowledge of the hospitality industry to Rosewood. He is responsible for providing financial and technology leadership and oversight to existing properties and new hotel developments. He leads the financial accounting, policy administration, control functions and information technology that ensure maximized value and the safeguarding of assets. Mr. Glidden began his accounting career as an operations analyst becoming a hotel financial controller at the age of 25. He spent several years working for Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, and also served as Director of Performance for Sun Life of Canada in Boston.
Stephen Miano - Vice President of Finance
Stephen Miano joined Rosewood in 2000 as Regional Controller at The Mansion on Turtle Creek. Prior to Rosewood, he spent 11 years with Four Seasons Hotels as a property financial controller and as Corporate Director of Finance in Hong Kong. His 20 years of experience in operations finance at properties in North America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Asia brings a diverse international perspective to the organization. Stephen has a bachelor's degree in hotel administration from Cornell University and a master's degree in accounting and information systems from University of Texas at Dallas, and he is a licensed certified public accountant in Texas.
Susan Aldridge - Senior Vice President of Legal and General Counsel
Formerly international counsel with Exxon Mobil responsible for major transactions, Ms. Aldridge returned to the Rosewood family in 2000. Prior to law school she was Tax Manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Director of Taxation for The Rosewood Corporation. She is responsible for all of the legal affairs of the company. Ms. Aldridge, a lawyer and certified public accountant, holds a Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University and a degree in business administration from the University of Memphis.
George Fong - Senior Vice President of Architecture & Design
George Fong rejoined Rosewood in 2007 as Vice President of Architecture & Design after six years as Vice President of Technical Services & Project Management for Starwood's St. Regis and Luxury Collection brands. In his position, Mr. Fong brings 27 years of international experience in the luxury hotel sector to bear on Rosewood design and construction projects. Prior to St. Regis, Mr. Fong was the Vice President of Design & Construction and a partner with Foresthills Hotels & Resorts. He had been with Rosewood in various positions from 1985 until his departure in 1998 as the Vice President of Design & Construction. He is a graduate of the London City and Guilds Institute.
Katherine Blaisdell - Vice President of Construction Development
In 2007, Katherine Blaisdell returned to Rosewood as Vice President of Construction Development, a role that focuses on the design and construction aspects of Rosewood properties in development. Ms. Blaisdell's previous tenure with Rosewood spanned almost 20 years during which time she helped oversee the development and redevelopment of numerous world-class properties as Director of Design & Construction. Before returning to Rosewood, she served as Director of Project Management & Construction for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and as Vice President of Design & Construction for the Kor Group.
Ralph Aruzza - Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Ralph Aruzza joined Rosewood in 2006. As Vice President of Sales & Marketing, he oversees all strategic brand initiatives and global sales networks. In addition, Mr. Aruzza also directs the Channel Management and Customer Relationship Management disciplines. Mr. Aruzza is an accomplished professional with over 33 years of experience in the luxury travel market. He began his career at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and held various field marketing positions at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. He later became the Corporate Director of Marketing for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, and went on to become Vice President of Marketing for Camberley Hotels and Coastal Hotel Group.
Ron Cusiter - Vice President of Sales & Marketing Operations
Ron Cusiter joined Rosewood in 2000, serving as Director of Marketing in Riyadh and Jakarta followed by various roles overseeing regional sales offices and international sales and marketing operations. An established professional with over two decades of hotel sales, public relations, marketing and hospitality expertise at prestigious international properties in North America, Middle East and Asia, Mr. Cusiter most recently served as Corporate Director of Hotel Sales & Marketing in addition to developing pre-opening strategy for future international projects. Promoted to Vice President of Sales & Marketing Operations in 2011, Mr. Cusiter continues his strategic oversight of urban hotels globally and directs pre-opening projects and regional sales strategies for Rosewood in the Middle East and Asia.
Elias Assaly - Vice President of Operations Development
Elias Assaly returned to Rosewood in April of 2007 as Vice President of Operations Development. In this position, he provides operational support and direction for acquisitions and projects under development. A Rosewood veteran, he served as Managing Director of Hotel Crescent Court from 2000 to 2004 before leaving to open the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. Prior to Rosewood, Mr. Assaly opened the W San Francisco for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and he worked for several luxury hotel companies including Hyatt and Ritz Carlton. He holds a BS from the American University of Beirut and a master's degree from Oklahoma State University.
Michael A. Gibb - Vice President of Operations
Appointed to Vice President of Operations in September 2007, Michael Gibb is responsible for ensuring service excellence and strong financial performance at Rosewood's existing properties, and for providing operational input and planning support for projects under development. Mr. Gibb joined Rosewood in 2003 as Managing Director of Hotel Al Khozama and Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and was promoted to Regional Vice President in 2004. His distinguished career in international hospitality includes the development and management of hotels, restaurants and private clubs in locations as diverse as South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
Gert F. Kopera - Vice President of Food & Beverage
Gert Kopera was appointed Vice President of Food & Beverage for Rosewood in 2009. A long-time veteran of the hospitality industry, Mr. Kopera began his career with Hilton International in Vienna and has worked in 16 international locations to date. His cross-culture exposure, background in food and beverage and management style were a perfect match for Rosewood, who recruited Mr. Kopera as Executive Assistant Manager for Hotel Al Khozama in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1998. There, he was also responsible for the opening of the internationally renowned Al Faisaliah Hotel as Hotel Manager. After serving as Consulting Director of Operations for Hotel Seiyo Ginza in Tokyo and Badrutt’s Palace in Switzerland, Mr. Kopera was appointed Managing Director of The Dharmawangsa in Jakarta before returning to Saudi Arabia to oversee the opening of Rosewood Corniche.
Marcie Lieberman - Senior Director of Operations, Rooms
Appointed Senior Director of Operations, Rooms in 2008, Marcie Lieberman is responsible for overseeing rooms division and spa operations for Rosewood’s existing properties and properties in development. Ms. Lieberman joined the Rosewood team in 2001 and served in various positions in the Caribbean before assuming the roles of Hotel Manager and Rooms Division Manager at The Carlyle in New York. In 2005, she was appointed Managing Director of Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe. Marcie began her hospitality career with Four Seasons at The Pierre in New York and was part of the opening team at The Four Seasons New York in 1993. Prior to joining Rosewood, she also held positions at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills and The Four Seasons Houston.
Alan Campey - Regional Vice President of Operations & Managing Director
Alan Campey, Regional Vice President of Operations and Managing Director of CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort in San Martin, California, brings with him more than 30 years experience in the luxury hospitality industry. He is responsible for his region of hotels providing excellent service and a robust financial performance. Campey has an impeccable reputation with the Four Seasons and with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. He returns to Rosewood from Chief Assets Officer for EBR Holdings, the owners of the Four Seasons Resort & Spa and the Greg Norman signature golf course in Exuma, Bahamas.
Erich Steinbock - Regional Vice President of Operations & Managing Director
Erich Steinbock was appointed Regional Vice President and Managing Director of Al Faisaliah Hotel and Hotel Al Khozama in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2012. Mr. Steinbock previously held the position of Managing Director of The Carlyle in New York as well as Area Director overseeing Rosewood Tucker’s Point in Bermuda. In his present capacity, he oversees Rosewood Corniche in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and other development projects in the Kingdom including the redevelopment of Al Khozama Hotel. Prior to joining Rosewood in 2009, Steinbock served as Vice President of Food & Beverage for Ritz-Carlton. Leading up to this position, he served as General Manager at several locations and led the opening teams at 14 Ritz-Carlton properties, both domestic and international.
Paul Arnold - Vice President of Development/Europe, Middle East & Africa
Paul Arnold was appointed to Rosewood's Development team in 2011. Mr. Arnold is responsible for leading Rosewood's expansion initiatives across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Previously, Mr. Arnold worked globally with Ernst & Young for 12 years, five of which were spent in the United States before relocating to the Dubai office where he helped establish, and eventually became responsible for leading, the firm's real estate, hospitality and leisure advisory services practice across the Middle East and North Africa region. He began his career in the hosptality industry in operational roles at several hotels in the United States. Mr. Arnold is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.
Sheri Line - Vice President of Human Resources
As Corporate Director of Human Resources at Rosewood, Sheri Line is responsible for aligning the Human Resources function as a strategic partner providing direction for operational needs. Ms. Line has implemented programs in training, development and global recruiting and strengthened internal communications. She has also created policies and standards that provide flexibility in addressing property-specific needs. Ms. Line brings to her role a wealth of experience in corporate, regional and international human resources. Prior to joining Rosewood in 2003, she served as Director of Human Resources for Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., and she spent 13 years with Wyndham International in various positions including Vice President of Human Resources Operations.
Patrick Kluck - Director of Purchasing
Patrick Kluck returned to Rosewood in 2011 as Director of Purchasing. In this role, he is responsible for evaluating and acquiring the many items such as furniture, fixtures, operating supplies and equipment that are placed into service in Rosewood properties. Mr. Kluck worked for Rosewood for over 13 years as Regional Director of Purchasing and as Managing Director and then went on to serve as General Manager and Corporate Director of Purchasing for Rock Resorts, Regional General Manager with Noble House Hotels and Resorts, General Manager for Carefree Resort and Villas and Director of Project Operations for Marcus Hotels and Resorts. Prior to his return to Rosewood, Mr. Kluck held corporate procurement positions with Parx Casino, Down Etc. and with Purchasing Management International.