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Hand Picked Hotels has named Olivia Peach as general manager of New Hall Hotel and Spa in Sutton Coldfield.
Peach began her career with the group as a spa therapist at New Hall in 2006, aged 18. Her appointment marks the culmination of nearly two decades with the company and reflects its commitment to developing internal talent.
New Hall, built in the 13th Century by the Earl of Warwick, is recognised as England’s oldest listed inhabited moated house. Now part of a 60-room hotel with antique-furnished suites and secluded gardens, the former defensive property is fed by seven natural springs.
Peach has held roles at several Hand Picked properties, including Rookery Hall Hotel and Spa in Cheshire, L’Horizon Beach Hotel and Spa in Jersey, and St Pierre Park Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort in Guernsey.
She returned to New Hall as health club and spa manager before a 2023 appointment as interim hotel manager at Stanbrook Abbey in Worcester. She later rejoined New Hall as deputy general manager, taking over the top role in mid-2025.
Her recent initiatives at New Hall include a partnership with beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury, combining afternoon tea, a beauty masterclass and pop-up retail event. The collaboration delivered high guest engagement and boosted food and beverage revenue. Further partnerships, including one with Jo Malone London, are under discussion.
Peach said: “Developing and retaining talent is one of our industry’s biggest challenges, but also its greatest opportunity.
“Hand Picked Hotels gave me the platform to build a meaningful career from the ground up. Becoming general manager at New Hall is a full-circle moment, and a powerful reminder of what’s possible when businesses invest in their people. I’m committed to challenging the traditional mould of leadership and creating a culture that champions wellbeing, celebrates individuality, and opens doors for the next generation of hospitality professionals.”
Julia Hands, chairman of Hand Picked Hotels, added: “We are incredibly proud to appoint Olivia Peach as general manager of New Hall Hotel and Spa. Her journey from a part-time therapist to a senior leadership role is not only inspiring; it exemplifies our long-standing belief in promoting talent from within.
“Olivia has developed her career across multiple properties in our collection, gaining a deep understanding of our guest experience, team culture, and operational standards. She embodies the values we look for in a leader: dedication, curiosity, and a people-first mindset.”
The group, a family-owned collection of 21 country house hotels and spa resorts across the UK and Channel Islands, said the appointment reflects its “focus on developing progressive leadership and delivering experience-led hospitality”.
