• Jean-Christophe Taunay-Bucalo was named COO; he had been serving as chief revenue officer for the past six years. According to an announcement, he spearheaded the company’s growth from start-up to $140 million in revenue.
• Yasmine Bratt was named as chief resource officer. She had been chief marketing officer of Ankorstore, a Paris-based global marketplace.
• Stuart Blake was named vice president, North America. He has nearly 20 years of sales experience, including as vice president of sales for Help Scout, a customer communications platform.
Sonesta International Hotels has named Bob Gunkel as its new CFO. He has previously served as CFO of IHG Hotels & Resorts for the Americas region. He most recently served as an adjunct professor of finance at Georgia State University in Atlanta. In addition, he has held senior positions in asset management, financial planning and analysis, hotel development and financial reporting.
Appellation, a new hotel brand co-founded by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer and Christopher Hunsberger (former president, the Americas, for Four Seasons), has named Jennifer Clay as vice president of hotel operations. She previously held multiple roles at Pineapple Hospitality Company — most recently as vice president of brand assurance. Her previous experience includes working with luxury global hotel brands, including Mandarin Oriental Hotels, The Peninsula Hotels and Six Senses. The first Appellation hotels will open next year.
