In announcing the hiring of Bert Fol as regional director for Africa, Radisson Hotel Group announced that a leadership shift had occurred in the company’s African executive team. He will concentrate his efforts on English-speaking Africa. Meanwhile, Sandra Kneubuhler has been appointed to the position of district director for South Africa, in addition to her existing position as national director of sales in the country.
The South African citizen began her hospitality career in 2001, working in a variety of roles in Zambia, Switzerland, Thailand, and Qatar until settling back in her home country of South Africa in 2007.
She began her career as a corporate trainee at the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg in 2005, and has since progressed within the organization, holding positions such as sales manager, revenue manager, and acting general manager.
Additionally, in her role as global sales director: Africa, which she has held since 2015, she was in charge of the establishment of the global sales office.
The Radisson Hotel Group hired Kneubuhler as its national sales director for South Africa in February 2019 after securing substantial sales expertise and understanding of the local market during her previous employment.
Kneubuhler will also have the added task of directing the operations of all Radisson Hotels in South Africa, which she will do in close collaboration with Fol, the regional director for English-speaking Africa, in her new position.
“Since joining the organization three years ago, Sandra has showed amazing accomplishments via her dedication to the sector, even when confronted with the most challenging conditions as a consequence of the epidemic.
As a group, we are firm believers in the importance of balanced leadership and the development of our talent. “With a team player like Sandra, who is driven by passion and forward thinking, we felt this was a logical next step in her career progression, one that we believe will be rewarding in every aspect,” said Fol, regional director, Africa, Radisson Hotel Group.
Fol worked for some of the world’s biggest and most prominent global hotel chains before joining Radisson Hotel Group in 2014 as cluster general manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Bucharest and Park Inn by Radisson Bucharest. Fol has more than 30 years of expertise in the hospitality business.
Fol has been the regional director for northern Africa since 2017, and has since expanded his responsibilities to include the Arabian peninsula and east Africa. He will now be in charge of the activities in English-speaking African nations in his position as regional director.
