EasyHotel appoints new finance director

EasyHotel, the affordable low-carbon hotel brand, has announced the appointment of Edward Jones as finance director as the company drives forward with its “ambitious” expansion plan. Jones has already started at the company and in just two months has made three hires to further strengthen the team. He joins from YuMove, a pet supplements company, where he was group finance director from March 2022 to January 2023 and he managed and trained a UK and US finance team, supported M&A activity, and was a key member of the senior leadership team. He started his career at Baker Tilly as an auditor in 2008, before joining the National Basketball Association as finance manager in 2012 to 2015. At easyHotel he will be supporting CFO Charles Persello to implement high level business efficiencies and help ready the group for the expansion plans, with the company aiming to double the size of the portfolio within the next four years. The other hires who join this month are Kay Pithwa, UK and Ireland financial controller, Sophie Ruelland, France and Spain financial controller and Fil Goralczyk, senior management accountant. Regarding his appointment, Jones said: “I am delighted to be joining easyHotel at an exciting time as it executes its ambitious growth strategy. As a great value and low-carbon operator, we’re seeing fantastic results with revPAR surging 32% compared with last year. Our value credentials and excellent brand recognition look set to fuel further growth throughout the rest of the year.” Karim Malak, CEO of easyHotel, added: “Ed is a fantastic addition to the team and joins us at a great time as we welcome record numbers of guests to our hotels. As well as organic growth, we have ambitious plans to grow further with new hotel openings, new franchisee partners and acquisitions to which Ed and his background will prove pivotal.”