Mantra Group today announced the appointment of Stephen Hobson as Chief Financial Officer, who will join the Group in mid-February 2017.

 

Stephen has more than 20 years senior financial management, commercial and operational experience, holding executive roles in well recognised global industries mainly in hospitality, tourism and travel sectors. 

 

Most recently Stephen was CFO and Transformation Executive at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Australia. 

 

Prior to that, he held senior roles at TAL Life, Qantas Airways and Lend Lease Corporation where his responsibilities included the design and implementation of strategic business and corporate finance transformation initiatives and programs across all business sectors delivering improved capabilities and processes to support ongoing growth. 

 

From 2000 to 2011, Stephen held numerous Senior Global Executive Finance and Business Transformation roles at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) responsible for implementing global business transformation strategies including a global finance and shared services transformation program aligned with overall business objectives successfully improving operational processes driving revenue uplift as well as customer and cost optimisation.

 

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from the University of Southern Queensland and a Master of Business Administration from Macquarie University. He is a member of CPA Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

 

Mantra Group CEO Bob East said “I am delighted to welcome Stephen to the Mantra team. Stephen’s technical skills, experience and expertise particularly in the global hospitality and travel sectors are well suited to Mantra Group and I am certain Stephen will make a significant contribution to the Group.”

 

Bob East thanked Kevan Funnell, Mantra Group’s Executive Director Finance, for his efforts in fulfilling the role of Acting CFO since August 2016.

 

“This demonstrates the expertise, capability and commitment of Kevan and the broader Mantra Group finance team,” Mr East said.

 

Kevan will continue as Acting CFO until Stephen joins the Group.

 

About Mantra Group

Mantra Group is the leading Australian-based hotel and resort operator.  Mantra Group’s portfolio consists of 126 properties with more than 21,000 rooms in properties under management, across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Hawaii. Operating three well-known and trusted brands – Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree - Mantra Group operates the second largest network of accommodation properties in Australia (by room number). The Group is positioned to offer both leisure and business style accommodation ranging from full-service city hotels and self-contained apartments to luxury resorts and retreats. The Group successfully listed on the ASX in June 2014 and in its first year as a public company was elevated to the ASX 200: www.mantragroup.com.au; www.peppers.com.au; www.mantra.com.au ; www.breakfree.com.au