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Meet the Team

Let us introduce you to Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates' Executive team

Alejandro Bernabé - General Manager

Alejandro Bernabé has worked in Spain, USA, Switzerland, South Africa, France, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Russia, Turkey, Malta, Kuwait and Jordan – making him the perfect man to take the helm at Kempinski’s flagship property in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai. Bernabe moved from Kempinski Hotel Aqaba, and brings 17 years of experience to his role – more than a decade of which have been spent with Kempinski.
Mehdi Zaanoun - Executive Assistant Manager

Mehdi joined Kempinski from the Trianon Palace Versailles, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where he most recently held the position of Acting General Manager. He started his career at the Hotel Four Seasons Georges V in Paris in 2002 and worked for Hilton for over six years before he joined the Trianon Palace Versailles in November 2010 as Director of Operations.
Sascha Seefried - Regional Revenue Manager Middle East

Sascha Seefried facilitates a strategic approach to pricing and inventory management aimed at maintaining and developing local and international business. Seefried moved to the hotel in 2010 from the Hotel Atlantic Kempinski Hamburg in his native Germany. Having previously worked in Dubai, Seefried's firm knowledge of the local market and ways to work it makes him one of the team's most valuable members.
Nasser Fawzi - Director of Sales & Marketing

Nasser Fawzi has worked with Kempinski since the mid-90s at properties in the UAE, Turkey and Egypt. Fawzi’s deep understanding of the brand and region have enabled him to position Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates as one of the Middle East’s most iconic hotels. Fawzi’s little black book of contacts would be the envy of anyone in the region’s hospitality industry.
Haitham Assem - Marketing Communications Manager

A Chartered Marketer Haitham Assem joined as a Front Desk Attendant in end of 2006 and has witnessed an exceptional career trajectory to his current position, overseeing the hotel’s brand-building activities and digital strategy as well as its image in the press and public eye. Assem’s efforts have consistently ranked the hotel as a ‘Best Practice Property’ within Kempinski’s portfolio. Prior to Dubai, Assem worked in JW Marriott and IHG in Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh.
Jacqui Brits - Director of People Services

Jacqui Brits is known for creating a satisfied and driven team through excellent performance management and motivational techniques. Brits earlier worked as HR Manager at Azadea Dubai and as Director of HR at F1-X Theme Park, Union Properties. Her hospitality experienced was gleaned at Jumeirah Group, where she worked in a number of roles of increasing seniority including that of Director of HR - Corporate.
Sudqi Naddaf - Executive Chef

The first Jordanian Executive Chef to head the opening team of a five-star hotel in his home country, Sudqi Naddaf possesses the formidable experience of a 20-year culinary career – six of which have been spent at various Middle Eastern Kempinski properties. Chef Naddaf oversees Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates’ entire kitchen operation which includes six restaurants and bars, banqueting, catering and room service operations.
Mátyás Bak - Front Office Manager

A part of the Kempinski Front Office team since 2006, before moving to Dubai Mátyás honed his guest-facing skills at Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko, Bulgaria and Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest in his home country of Hungary. The young and dynamic manager speaks three languages fluently – English, German and his native Hungarian – making him a great asset in serving the hotel’s multicultural guest profile.
Gerardo Gabat - Chief Concierge

A member of the hotel’s Concierge Team, Gerardo Gabat is the face most guests associate with efficiency and service with a smile. Since 1995 Gabat has served in various senior Guest Relations positions in the Philippines and Dubai. A member of Les Clefs D’Or and the Union International of Hotel Concierge, Gabat has won numerous awards for not just meeting, but consistently exceeding guests’ expectations.
Prasanna Rupasinghe - Director of Information Technology

The award winning Prasanna Rupasinghe has more than 15 years experience in IT Management – close to a decade of which have been spent within the Kempinski Group. His efforts in developing solutions that improve the efficiency of IT and hospitality business operations have won several internal and external recognitions over the course of a very long and successful career including IT Person of the Year 2011 at the Hotelier Middle East Awards.
Jayakumar Pillai - Director of Technical Services

A veteran in the region's hospitality scene, Jayakumar Pillai brings 25 years of experience to his role as Director of Technical Services. Jayakumar previously served as Cluster Chief Engineer of three of the InterContinental Hotels Group's UAE properties and an 18-hole golf course. He also worked for the Ministry of Defence in Saudi Arabia and has held consultative roles advising the construction of five-star hotels.

Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates

Sheikh Zayed Road ,P.O. Box 120679, Dubai +971 4 341 0000