Nigel Hurst Joins HEI as SVP, HR
NORWALK, CT, November 21, 2006. HEI Hospitality, one of the nation's largest and fastest growing hospitality investment companies, today announced that Nigel Hurst has joined the company as senior vice president of human resources. He will report directly to Gary Mendell, chairman and chief executive officer.
Hurst will oversee all human resource activities for the company's growing workforce of 5,000 people. His responsibilities include recruitment, talent development, leadership development, employee relations, employee performance management, compensation and benefits.
"Our people are the most important factor in a guest's positive hotel experience," said Mendell. "Nigel brings to HEI more than 30 years of human resources expertise from major international companies. Our goal is to recruit the best and brightest in the industry. His expertise in HR strategy and corporate culture will help us reach our goal of Best in Class status within all hotel investment/management companies." Previously Hurst was senior vice president, human resources, for Unilever United States, where he was a member of the company's five-person management committee that oversaw all of the company. He played a key role in the integration of Lever Brothers, Chesebrough Ponds and Helene Curtis into a single business unit with a common mission and shared values.
He is the former senior vice president of Unilever East Asia Pacific where he oversaw all human resources activities for the company's fastest growing region, with more than $2 billion of annual revenues. During his tenure, he was integral in helping the business achieve a 90 percent internal succession rate and voluntary turnover rate of less than 7 percent. He also was head of personnel for Unilever Plantations, where he integrated the acquisitions of five companies with more then 70,000 employees. Hurst holds a BA in Business Studies from Coventry University in the United Kingdom. HEI Hospitality, headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., is an investment firm that owns and operates first-class, full-service hotels throughout the United States under such well-known brand names as Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Embassy Suites, and Hilton.
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