The Partners

Managing Director

After growing up in the hotel business, Robert started his professional journey as a commercial lawyer. Robert soon discovered his proficiency in the hospitality industry when he joined the Jumeirah Group as General Counsel and Company Secretary in 2005. Robert very quickly established his fluency in the hospitality world, demonstrating his keen ability to strategically identify and reconcile the nuances of a very complex business. He was soon entrusted with senior leadership roles as Chief Development Officer and Chief Operating Officer, before moving to the CEO role at Grace Hotels.

One of Robert’s key strengths lies in upholding a highly attuned understanding of navigating senior stakeholder relationships and structures, which has enabled him to achieve high impact transformation across global organisations. Deeply passionate about achieving successful results and a self-declared perfectionist, Robert brings a meticulous approach that is both commercially sharp yet underpinned with a discerning sense of the needs of a premium hospitality experience. Ultimately Robert’s working philosophy seeks to enable brilliant hospitality brands, with brilliant commercial viability.

Most proud of

“Developing a positive and connected culture with a high level of colleague engagement at both Jumeirah Group and Grace Hotels and leading the Development team at Jumeirah Group during the most significant period of growth for the Jumeirah brand.”

What you won’t find on my CV

Robert climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2013 to support a children’s charity. He also has an insatiable appetite for wanderlust which led him to embark on a brief sabbatical in 2011 where he travelled around the world, including visits to Patagonia and Easter Island. 

Partner

Fatina brings to the partnership extensive experience relating to hotel development, operations and legal matters. Fatina has a proven record of working closely with development, commercial and operational teams in a global hospitality business and driving exceptional outputs across the teams that she has worked with. Born in Jordan and fluent in English and Arabic, Fatina has the reputation of being highly effective, whilst also diplomatic, with an intuitive sense of knowing how to get the best out of those she works with. Always positive yet highly focused, Fatina is a dedicated champion of success.

Most proud of

“Being part of the senior leadership team at Jumeirah Group during the most significant period of growth for the Jumeirah brand.”

What you won’t find on my CV

Fatina sees herself as a global citizen and enjoys being a mother to two very imaginative and energetic children. Fatina has volunteered for and supported various charities and non-profit organizations around the world and loves traveling and learning about different cultures.

Partner

Mike is the team’s finance leader who has the rare ability to deliver strategic direction at board level and also inspire success across stakeholders. Having spent nearly three decades with a highly focused expertise in hospitality finance, Mike’s understanding of how to deliver robust financial strategies is empirically impressive. He has a specific ability to identify transformative opportunities for organisations that require comprehensive strategic change.

Mike’s approach to an intensely complex subject area is pragmatic and direct and this is reflected in his down-to-earth and frank outlook on life. His working philosophy follows that solutions should be developed with a rigorous systematic methodology but delivered in highly simple and realistic ways. Mike ensures that comprehension of financial strategies, radical or minor, are totally transparent, effective and implementable.

Most proud of

“Working with a great team to build De Vere Venues into the UK’s leading provider of conference and leisure hotels.”

What you won’t find on my CV

Mike is a Non-Executive Director for St Martin in the Fields, the landmark church and cultural venue in London that works to support the homeless. Mike also mentors the HR Director of a National pub chain and two MBA graduates at the University of Surrey. He is also an aspiring cook and wine geek, having reached Diploma level of WSET.