far East appoints CEO for hospitality business

Far East Organization has appointed Arthur Kiong, 52, as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of its Hospitality Business Group, effective 15 July 2012. The hotel industry veteran returns to Far East Organization where he headed its then newly-created Hotel Division from August 2005 to December 2007. He joined Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts in January 2008 as Senior Vice President – Group Sales & Marketing and was promoted in January 2011 to Managing Director - Hotel Operations (Asia Pacific & China) in addition to his concurrent role as Senior Vice President - Group Marketing Services. Mr Kiong’s last appointment at Banyan Tree Holdings was as its Chief Executive Officer – Canopy Marketing Group, where he was responsible for the inception of a marketing company that provides strategic insights and marketing services to the various business owners in the Banyan Tree Group as well as Residences Owners. In his new role at Far East Organization, Mr Kiong will provide key leadership as the organisation prepares to further grow its hospitality property development and management business, starting with a move to restructure its hospitality assets under listed subsidiary Orchard Parade Holdings Limited and a proposal to set up a Far East Hospitality Trust (Far East H-Trust).