Michael Cooper

Vice President, Development, Sub Saharan Africa

Michael Cooper joined Bass, now IHG, in 1998 based in Budapest and responsible for the development of the Crowne Plaza brand in Russia & Central Europe. Subsequently  this was widened to include all IHG brands and over the next five years  he negotiated more than 30 hotel contracts  across the region.   

In 2003 Michael took over IHG’s distribution expansion in the UK adding a further 4,500 rooms to the estate.

He returned to Russia  as Vice President Development in 2005 and  remained there until early 2011 when he moved to South Africa to the newly created position of Vice President Development Sub-Sahara Africa reflecting an emphasis on development within the African continent.
 

Featured sessions:

• RHIC 2011 Awards