Hilton has named Jerry Huang president of development in Greater China and Mongolia. Effective September 10, Huang will oversee the team responsible for the overall development strategy for China.
“Jerry’s experience within the vast China hospitality market is nearly unparalleled,” Matt Fry, Hilton’s SVP of development for Asia Pacific, said in a statement. “Having someone of his caliber join our team will allow us to build on the success we have had in this very important market.”
Hilton today has more than 500 hotels open and under development in Greater China, with more than one third of all hotel rooms under construction carrying one of its brands. According to Qian Jin, area president for Greater China and Mongolia, China is the company’s largest market outside of the U.S., with a target of 1,000 hotels by 2025.
Huang has more than 30 years' of industry experience. A 25-year spell at IHG saw him lead the development and operations teams, before becoming its president of Greater China. More recently, Huang was president, Greater China of Artyzen Hotels Group.
A former VP of the China Tourism Hotel Association, he also serves as a member of the China National Tourism Administration Platinum Five-Star Grading Committee. On multiple occasions he has been recognized as one of the "Top 10 Figures in China’s Hotel Industry" by the China Hotel Industry Annual Meeting Committee and has been awarded International Hotelier of the Year at the China Hotel Investment Conference.
Huang will be based in Hilton’s China regional office in Shanghai and will report to Matt Fry, Hilton's new SVP of development for Asia Pacific. He replaces Francis Lee, who iss leaving Hilton to pursue opportunities in the investment and private equity industries.