Six Continents Hotels has promoted Chris Moloney to area vice-president operations for the Middle East and Africa, where the company currently operates 123 hotels and resorts.

Moloney, who has been general manager of the InterContinental Riyadh and regional vice-president operations for Saudi Arabia, took up his new position on October 1 at Six Continents Hotels' regional headquarters in Cairo.

A graduate of Ecole Hoteliere Lausanne, Switzerland, Moloney joined the company in 1983. After gaining international experience in F&B and managerial positions with InterContinental in Paris and Abu Dhabi, at the Al Bustan Palace InterContinental in Muscat, and in San Francisco, he was appointed resident manager of the Forum Hotel in London in 1995.

Moloney returned to the Middle East in 1997, initially as general manager of the Al Jubail InterContinental Hotel in Saudi Arabia, where Six Continents Hotels has a total of 20 InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn properties under management.

Raymond Khalife, president, Six Continents Hotels, Middle East and Africa, said: "The new appointment is part of our continued development in this region, where we are already the largest hotel operator."

Atieh Hamarneh replaces Moloney as general manager of the InterContinental Riyadh, and is promoted to the position of regional vice-president operations - Saudi Arabia East, Central, and Government Hotels.

Bander Harbi becomes regional vice-president operations - Saudi Arabia West, while continuing as general manager of the Jeddah InterContinental Hotel.