Russell Reynolds Associates Names Leader of Leisure/Hospitality Team

February 13, 2018 – Russell Reynolds Associates has continued its recent expansion with the addition of Hoda Tahoun to its consumer practice as a leader of the leisure and hospitality team.

Based in Miami, Ms. Tahoun advises U.S.-based and global companies on developing and building strong executive teams while also guiding clients on long-term leadership strategies, including succession planning. Her clients range from global hotel companies, cruise companies, private equity firms, development firms, travel businesses, entertainment companies and sovereign wealth funds. She recruits for CEO, board director and senior-level executive assignments in operations, business development, finance and customer experience.

“Hoda has deep industry connections with top executives in the travel, hospitality, leisure and real estate industries,” said Constantine Alexandrakis, leader of Russell Reynolds’ U.S. region. “Her work recruiting and advising international senior management teams in these dynamic and agile sectors will have an immediate impact on our clients’ growth capabilities as they look for ways to leverage their human capital for success.”

Ms. Tahoun joins Russell Reynolds after more than seven years working for both internationally recognized and boutique executive search firms. Most recently, she was a principal and senior member of a global hospitality and real estate practice at Korn Ferry. Before that, she was a partner with Sousou Partners, a boutique executive search firm dedicated to real estate and hospitality sectors.

Before entering the search industry, Ms. Tahoun worked with hotel management companies, cruise companies and private equity firms, with a particular focus on the Americas and global roles. Previously, she was an assistant vice president at SHUAA Capital in Dubai, where she led investment banking efforts at the firm. Earlier, she worked as a pricing manager at American Express, a portfolio manager at Bank of America and a financial analyst at Citi.

The leisure and hospitality industry is experiencing tremendous growth, as well as unprecedented change, causing an increase in costs, competition, industry consolidation and economic concerns. This, along with ever-evolving consumer tastes, places continuous pressure on the leisure and hospitality industry to adapt, said the search firm.

Companies are responding to the need to innovate and connect in a meaningful way with consumers/guests, as well as the rising demand in key emerging markets and the shift away from real estate into asset-light models, said the firm. This requires a new breed of leader, who can successfully lead transformative change in the digital age while understanding the complexities and realities of emerging markets, as well as changing business models.

Industry Rebounding

After suffering a major hit during the Great Recession, employment and hiring within the leisure and hospitality industry is finally rebounding. In the last year, according to one set of survey metrics, the industry added 527,000 jobs (2.6 million since 2004). Predictions are that that number will increase this year, as global tourism and traveling in general are expected to rise.

As such, the travel and hospitality market is estimated to generate an annual economic impact of $6.5 trillion worldwide this year. In the U.S. alone, the $1.5 trillion industry accounts for nearly eight million jobs, more than five percent of total jobs across the country.

Recent Expansion

Russell Reynolds Associates has experienced a wave of growth over the past year. Here’s a look at some key additions to the firm from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

Just recently, Russell Reynolds Associates expanded with the addition of Lauren Shin as a member of its global consumer team. Based in New York, Ms. Shin leads the luxury, fashion and beauty teams in North America within the firm’s omni-channel retail and luxury practice. She works across a broad range of consumer verticals, including fashion, beauty, home, food and beverage …

Just recently, Russell Reynolds added former AOL HR executive Stephanie Angelini as a member of its human resources officers practice. She is based in New York. In her new role, Ms. Angelini is leveraging her extensive human resources strategy experience to advise clients across a range of industries, with particular expertise recruiting HR leadership for the financial services and tech areas.

In August, former Spencer Stuart recruiter Charles Falcone took over as the new leader of Russell Reynolds’ U.S. education practice, which includes higher learning, academic medicine and digital education. He also became a member of the firm’s healthcare services team. Based in Chicago, Mr. Falcone specializes in executive search and succession planning for …

In July, Russell Reynolds named Mary-Caroline Tillman as co-leader of its global financial services practice. Based in New York, she works closely with chairpersons, chief executive officers and senior leadership teams in the financial services industry. Ms. Tillman co-leads the practice with Amanda Foster, who is based in London.

In June, Russell Reynolds named Peter L. O’Brien as the region head for Asia Pacific. He is responsible for managing the firm’s business across the region and driving growth in key markets, including China, India, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

In April, the firm added Marc de Leyritz as managing director of its global board and CEO practice. Based in Paris, Mr. de Leyritz works with multinational clients across a range of C-suite and board-related areas, including CEO search and succession, leadership development and organizational transformation.

In March, the firm added Lloyd Semple and Dan Hawksworth to its industrial, and energy & natural resources practices. Mr. Semple advises and recruits C-suite level executives for clients across a breadth of industrial segments. Mr. Hawksworth advises clients within both the firm’s industrial and energy & natural resources practices.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media