Marriott International has appointed Jerome Briet as its Chief Development Officer for the Middle East and Africa.

In his new role, Briet will oversee and drive the company’s growth through new-build, conversion and franchise opportunities across new and established markets in the region.

Briet was previously the Regional Vice President, Mixed-use Development for the Middle East and Africa.  He takes on his new role from Samir Baidas who served as the Chief Development Officer and has been a pivotal part of the company’s Middle East and Africa development team for over 14 years.  Baidas announced he would move on from his current role to focus on his family business, however will remain as a development consultant for Marriott International.

Briet holds over 15 years of hospitality experience.  He first joined Marriott International in 2012 and has since signed more than 6,000 rooms across the Middle East & Africa, including iconic properties such as the Bulgari Resort & Residences Dubai, Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai, Marriott Hotel & Resort Palm Jumeirah and The Ritz-Carlton properties in Ras Al Khaimah (Al Wadi and Al Hamra).

Prior to joining Marriott, Briet worked with Jones Lang LaSalle in their Paris and Dubai offices, where he handled capital markets transactions in the MENA region. He also worked with Millennium & Copthorne, where he oversaw Development & Acquisitions for the Middle East, Africa and India.