Bass Hotels hunts for Simpson successor

Bass Hotels and Resorts (BHR) is believed to be seeking a new vice-president of marketing (Europe) for its upscale hotels division following the departure of Adrian Simpson.

Simpson, who controlled marketing for the Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza and Forum chains, left Bass earlier this month after 17 years to set up a specialist marketing consultancy for the hotel and leisure industry.

His departure comes as the leisure giant, which also owns the Holiday Inn brand, embarks on a massive global expansion programme, funded by the &£2.3bn sale of its brewing assets to Interbrew.

Simpson, who started his career with now-defunct British Transport Hotels before moving on to the Inter-Continental chain, says: “My time with the company has been tremendously rewarding but I felt the time was right for a new career challenge.

“Marketing has really taken off in the hotel and leisure sector in recent years. The way it has matured over the past 20 years has been phenomenal.”

Bass, which has 2,800 hotels worldwide, is expected to change its name within the next two years, following the sale of its beer division.

In May, Patrick Imbardelli, deputy chief executive officer of Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation, was appointed vice-president (marketing) of BHR’s Asia Pacific division.

Simpson aims to launch his venture in the autumn.