16.05.2018

CEO Yaron Ashkenazi is leaving the organisation after seven years

Berlin, May 2018. Top management changes at the GCH Hotel Group, Germany’s second largest hotel management group based in Berlin. Yaron Ashkenati (53), Group CEO is leaving after seven years. The native-born Israeli was Area Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 2011 and then CEO of the GCH Hotel Group from 2013, has now decided to take on new tasks and challenges. His designated successor is Sascha Hampe (45), to date Area Vice President, who has also been with the GCH Hotel Group since 2011 and took over the position as Chief Operating Officer. 

Rapid growth under Ashkenazi’s leadership

Under Yaron Ashkenazi’s leadership, the GCH Hotel Group has developed rapidly into one of the leading and largest hotel management companies in Europe: It now has over 120 hotels with about 15,000 rooms in Germany, Belgium and Austria, welcoming over three million guests annually and employing around 3,300 people. In addition, year after year, the group has been continually listed as “AAA” in the Treugast Investment Ranking.  Numerous projects, innovative ideas and the implementation of advanced technology can all be attributed to him. He positioned the GCH Hotel Group in the market as a professional, independent service provider (B2B) of management services, and amongst others - introduced an own leadership program for young talent and the Junior Sales & Revenue Academy. He also caused a sensation in 2016, when GCH became the first hotel management company worldwide to have a virtual reality website.

Proud of the achievements, thanks to the team and sad to leave

Although it is his own decision to leave, Yaron Ashkenazi looks back over his time at the GCH Hotel Group nostalgically: “I am proud of the achievements, it has certainly been a challenge to turn a young and small organisation into what it is today: a successful business recognised throughout Europe and around the world working closely together with leading international hotel brands. I would like to express my sincere thanks and respect to my team, all employees, our partners and investors. Without each one, this success story would not have been possible. I am handing over my successor Sascha Hampe, a healthy organisation that is well positioned for the future. I have complete trust in him and wish him good luck and every success in the future.”