Aleph Hospitality has appointed Rob Kucera as regional vice-president for East and South Africa, handing him oversight of more than 25 hotels across nine countries.
Kucera will be based in Nairobi. His portfolio covers six brands in 20 destinations, and he will also lead the group’s development pipeline in the region as it adds properties across the continent.
His remit includes the region’s financial, commercial and operational performance, relationships with hotel owners, and regional HR. The company, which describes itself as the largest independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa, announced the appointment on 17 August 2026.
Kucera has more than 20 years in hospitality management. He joins from Radisson Hotel Group, where he was complex general manager and district director for East Africa, covering properties in Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and South Sudan. He has previously been general manager of the Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel in Istanbul, the Pearl of Africa Hotel by Radisson Hotels in Kampala, and the Westin Cape Town.
He also served as chief operating officer of the Hospitality Property Fund, South Africa’s dedicated hotel REIT, and as chairman of the FEDHASA Cape board.
Bani Haddad, founder and co-CEO of Aleph Hospitality, said: “East and Southern Africa is one of the fastest-growing markets for Aleph Hospitality, and this is a truly strategic appointment for the group as we deepen our presence in the region. Rob brings a rare combination of regional expertise and operational excellence, having led some of the most respected hotels across East Africa and beyond.”
Kucera said: “The company’s portfolio across East and Southern Africa is growing at an impressive pace, and I look forward to contributing and building on that momentum, supporting our general managers and delivering outstanding results and building stronger teams for our owners and stakeholders across the region.”
The group has signed hotels in Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia and Zanzibar in recent years, and has set a target of 100 hotels by 2029.
