A team of esteemed professionals in the field “INVEST” International Advisory Board
Claude Béglé
Chairman & CEO, Swiss NeWater Holding
Claude Béglé
Chairman & CEO, Swiss NeWater Holding
Dr Claude Béglé is a Swiss entrepreneur, currently fully engaged in the field of sustainability and environmental initiatives. Founder and CEO of Swiss NeWater, a company whose purpose is to tackle two complementary SDGs: enhance public health / fight pandemics through hygiene, while at the same time protecting the environment. Swiss NeWater has developed a disruptive technology, i.e. a machine producing on the spot 18 eco-friendly cleaning and disinfection formulas.
He was a member of the Federal Parliament of Switzerland, particularly active in its Foreign Affairs Committee, with a focus on peace and humanitarian activities, as well as digitalization and cybersecurity. Previously, he served as Chairman of the Board of the Swiss Post, a logistics and financial service entity with a revenue of 11 billion CHF, 10 % net profit and the country’s second largest employer. He has been a member of DHL Express global board and CEO for Central Europe & Germany. Prior to that, he has been Chairman and CEO of DPD, as well as Executive Vice President of GeoPost (French Post). He also served as Vice President Europe of TNT Express. During the first half of his career, he held several marketing and managerial positions for Nestle and Philip Morris. He started with the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Development Cooperation) and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
He holds a PhD in Economics, a Master in Law and a Master in International Relations.
Lector Dr Mihai A. Ghigiu
Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Romania
Lector Dr Mihai A. Ghigiu
Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Romania
Mr. Ghigiu is the Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Romania. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest (SNSPA) and has taught courses in European policy since 2012. He was appointed Vice-Rector of SNSPA in 2018 and served in this position until he was appointed President - Secretary of State of the National Institute of Administration (INA) in January 2022.
Previously, Mr. Ghigiu served as Senior Advisor to the Romanian Minister of National Education (2012-2014, 2016) and Deputy Minister in the General Secretariat of the Romanian Government (2017). Mr. Ghigiu has also been a member of the Board of the Romanian – US Fulbright Commission (2019-2022).
Also, Mr. Ghigiu is national coordinator for intellectual property and president of the Commission for Examination of Foreign Direct Investments (CEISD).
Mihai Ghigiu attended several training courses in Europe and the U.S., such as Universidad Complutense – Madrid (2013); École Nationale d’Administration (ENA) – Paris (2014); ETH – Swiss School of Public Governance – Zurich (2018); Kennedy School – Harvard University – USA (2017, 2018 and 2023), and other similar programs.
Simona Constantinescu
President, FIHR
Simona Constantinescu
President, FIHRAs the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at FIHR, the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation, and the CEO of Ana Hotels, one of the largest hotel chains in Romania, Simona has over 20 years of experience in leading and transforming businesses in the hospitality and finance sectors. She has a Master of Arts in Board Practice and Directorship from Henley Business School, and an Executive MBA from ASEBUSS and the University of Washington. Her core competencies include corporate governance, hospitality management, change/transition management, wealth management and management of family-office, strategy formulation, crisis management, advocacy, corporate finance, financial risk management, and capital markets. She is passionate about pursuing the interests and standards of the hotel industry in Romania, and promoting its potential and opportunities to the global market. She has successfully navigated the challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, implementing innovative and sustainable solutions to ensure the recovery and growth of the hospitality business. She has also contributed to the development and implementation of the national tourism strategy, and established strong partnerships with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
Prof. Dr Gabriela Țigu
Dean of the Faculty of Business and Tourism, ASE
Prof. Dr Gabriela Țigu
Dean of the Faculty of Business and Tourism, ASE
Gabriela TIGU, Professor, Ph.D., is the Dean of the Faculty of Business and Tourism at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies since 2020 and Professor and PhD Coordinator in the Department of Tourism and Geography.
Between 2012 and 2016, she was Vice-Rector for Education and Lifelong Learning at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies.
Her areas of specialization are Tourism Operations Management, Destination Management, Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, Business Ethics and Human Resources Management in Tourism. She is the author of 22 published books, more than 150 articles and scientific papers and 34 national and international research assignments dealing with tourism issues.
She has successfully managed two postgraduate programs, namely Strategic Hospitality Management and Manager of Tourism Destination.
Gabriela Tigu is also a tourism journalist and Vice President of the Tourism Press Club FIJET Romania; member of the Advisory Board of the Romanian Competition Council, Director of the Academic Association for Research in Tourism and Services CACTUS; Member of CNATDCU (National Council for the Accreditation of Titles, Diplomas and Certificates), since 2011; Member of the Transylvanian Thermal Tourism Cluster; Advisor to the Romanian Ministry of Tourism, 2011 and 2019-2020; and Member of the World Committee for Tourism Ethics within UNWTO, between 2019 and 2023.
Radu Savopol
President, Romanian Hotel and Restaurant Employers' Organisation - HORA
Radu Savopol
President, Romanian Hotel and Restaurant Employers' Organisation - HORARadu Savopol is a seasoned Romanian entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in the HoReCa industry, successfully implementing similar business concepts across various regions in the country. His most significant venture to date is the 5 to go coffee shop chain, a project born from the desire to offer high-quality coffee at an affordable price. The chain aims to create a consistent daily experience for customers at any of its over 150 locations, where both service and coffee quality are standardized. In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Mr. Savopol, who is also an interior designer, personally crafted the interior design of the 5 to go locations. He placed a strong emphasis on creating a welcoming atmosphere that appeals to a diverse clientele, including high school and college students, as well as corporate clients. Recently, 5 to go was recognized as one of the top three coffee shop chains in Central and Eastern Europe at the largest HoReCa symposium in Europe.
Nina Moldovan
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Moldova in Cluj & CEO, Winners First
Nina Moldovan
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Moldova in Cluj & CEO, Winners First
With a wealth of experience in business development, Nina Moldovan has dedicated her career to enhancing the hospitality sector through strategic leadership and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Her extensive background in new business development gives her a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by startups, thanks to her involvement in projects from their earliest stages.
With over 23 years of experience across various roles and domains, including tourism, hospitality, real estate development, and startup programs, she remains committed to elevating service standards, optimizing operational efficiency, and giving back to the community.
Her mission is to foster innovation within the hospitality and real estate industries, seamlessly blending tradition with technology and always striving for excellence.
As the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Moldova, Nina Moldovan serves as a catalyst for synergy between the two countries, fostering educational, cultural, and business exchanges. This unique role at the intersection of diplomacy and hospitality has further refined her expertise in new business development within the hospitality sector.
Tinu Sebeșanu
Managing Partner, Trend Hospitality
Tinu Sebeșanu
Managing Partner, Trend Hospitality
With more than three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Tinu has put his mark in the concept, development and management of various landmark projects in the region, positively impacting their implementation and success.
He attended the courses of the Bucharest Institute of Technology followed by an MBA Program. Pursuing in a continuing education credo, he got specializations in Strategic, Financial and Asset Management at Cornell and Boston Universities and received the Postgraduate Certificate of Board Practice and Directorship at Henley Business School.
In 2005 he founded Trend Hospitality Consulting & Management, which has become one of the leading companies in the South Eastern region with over 300 projects completed to date. The company offers consulting and management services as market research, feasibility studies, valuations, financing, brokerage and asset management. Also, Tinu is a founding member of HORA (the Hotels and Restaurants Organization in Romania).
Stefan Frænkel
CEO, LIFHE Institute Lausanne
Stefan Frænkel
CEO, LIFHE Institute LausanneStefan is a international hotelier, lecturer, author, entrepreneur and best known for his long-time association as Alumni and member of the management with Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne know toady as EHL Hospitality Business School in Switzerland. Stefan aims to act as a bridge builder between world class hospitality ambassadors, organizations, individuals an alike sharing a common sustainable vison to cross the bridge towards the next level of excellence.
Cătălin Cighi
Managing Partner, Cain Group
Cătălin Cighi
Managing Partner, Cain GroupCatalin invests at the intersection of hospitality and healthcare. He has been active for over 20 years in the US, Europe, and the Middle East, contributing to hospitality and tourism projects valued at over $100 billion. He specializes in business model innovation, capital allocation, and operator selection. As an entrepreneur and investor in healthcare, Catalin has formed public-private partnerships that achieved 30x returns. Before founding Cain Group in Dubai, he worked with firms such as PwC, HVS, and The Economist Group.
Charles Guyonnaud
Regional Vice President, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Charles Guyonnaud
Regional Vice President, Hyatt Hotels CorporationCharles Guyonnaud joined Hyatt in 2013 as Director of Operations, from which he worked his way up to his current role, Regional Vice President for Franchise Operations. Charles has brought with him an extensive background in the hotels industry, having previously worked at IHG Hotels, Expedia, and Concorde Hotels, to name a few, and has developed a passion for the industry along the way. Charles’ strong operational background, particularly due to his roles in data and revenue management, combined with this comprehensive sector knowledge, has perfectly placed him to oversee Hyatt’s franchise business and support its future growth.
Russell Kett
Chairman, HVS London
Russell Kett
Chairman, HVS LondonRussell Kett is Chairman of the London office of HVS, the leading global specialist hotel valuation, consulting, asset management and brokerage firm, which he joined in 1995. Russell has 40+ years' specialist hotel consultancy, investment and real estate experience, focused on providing valuation, feasibility, property, brokerage, investment, asset management, strategy and related consultancy services, advising hotel, serviced apartments and hostel companies, banks, developers and investors on all aspects of their hospitality industry related interests, throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa. He is a frequent writer, moderator and speaker on the international hotel industry, especially on topics relating to hotel valuation, investment, marketing and finance. Russell received a Lifetime Achievement Award from HOSPA in 2011 and the ‘Hall of Fame’ Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hot.E hotel investment conference in London in 2017. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a member of the International Hotel Investment Council. He and his wife are blessed with two children and three grandchildren.
Ruud Reuland
Reuland Hospitality Coaching, Former CEO of EHL
Ruud Reuland
Reuland Hospitality Coaching, Former CEO of EHL
Ruud Reuland, born in 1949 and of Dutch nationality, has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management (Hotel school The Hague, the Netherlands) and a bachelor’s as well as a master’s degree in business law (Erasmus University, the Netherlands).
He worked in many operational jobs in the hospitality industry in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Ireland.
In 1977 he was appointed Director of Human Resources of a hospital in Haarlem, the Netherlands.
In 1980 he joined the Hotel school The Hague, first as professor in Human Resource Management and Hospitality law, later as Member of the Board of Directors. In 1997 he was appointed Dean of the same school.
Ruud became General Director of the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland in 2002 and ensured that the school was and is ranked as the premier hospitality school in the world.
Since 2011 Ruud is involved in several international projects, mainly in hospitality education strategy development and implementation: Switzerland, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Oman, Cambodia, Bhutan, India, Kenya, China, Tunisia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, and Tanzania.
Ruud worked for and with renowned organizations, such as the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland, Dusit International in Thailand, the Aga Khan University in Kenya, the Institut de Tourisme et Hôtellerie du Québec, the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management in Dubai, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management in Hong Kong and the Nova School of Business and Economics.
Adela Cristea
Vice President Business Development, Radisson
Adela Cristea
Vice President Business Development, RadissonAdela has extensive experience in both consulting and hotel operations. She worked for six years as managing consultant at Humberts Leisure and consultant at TRI Hospitality in London, where she contributed to the foundation of the hotel benchmarking database, Hotstats. She has also participated in producing various publications on the hotel industry across the UK, while achieving an MBA from Hult International Business School, London. She has also studied Corporate Finance at London Business School.
Prof. Dr Achim Schmitt
Dean, EHL
Prof. Dr Achim Schmitt
Dean, EHL
Prof. Dr. Achim Schmitt is Member of the Executive Leadership Team and Dean of EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland.
After almost 20 years in strategy consulting, Achim has gained substantial knowledge in strategy formulation, corporate turnarounds and managing underperforming business situations. In his earlier career, he participated in the turnaround of 15 companies and currently functions as a strategy advisor in Switzerland and Germany.
Academically, Achim has worked at the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Collège des Ingenieurs (CDI) in Paris (France), China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai (China), Columbia Business School in New York (USA), Universidad de los Andes in Bogota (Colombia) and Audencia Business School in Nantes (France).
Achim holds a PhD from the University of Geneva and obtained his Habilitation at the University of Paris‐Dauphine in France. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Geneva, an Associated Researcher at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, and an academic board member at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS). He currently holds two board memberships in the private sector.
Prof. Dr Abraham Pizam
Founding Dean, Rosen-UCF
Prof. Dr Abraham Pizam
Founding Dean, Rosen-UCFAbraham Pizam is founding dean and Linda Chapin Eminent Scholar Chair in Tourism Management in the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. Professor Pizam is widely known in the field of Hospitality and Tourism Management and has conducted research projects, lectured, and served as a consultant in more than 30 countries. He has held various academic positions, in the U.S.A, U.K., France, Austria, Australia, New-Zealand, Singapore, Israel and Switzerland, has authored more than 200 scientific publications and ten books, is the Editor-Emeritus ef of the International Journal of Hospitality Management and serves on the editorial boards of 20 academic journals. Professor Pizam has conducted consulting and research projects for a variety of international, national and regional tourism organizations. Professor Pizam holds a Master’s degree from New York University and a Ph.D. from Cornell University, and is the recipient of several academic awards.
Prof. Dr Colin Johnson
Professor, San Francisco State University
Prof. Dr Colin Johnson
Professor, San Francisco State University
Colin Johnson, Ph.D., holds a doctorate in economic and social sciences from Fribourg University, Switzerland. He also has an M.B.A. from Manchester Business School and a B.A. from the Open University in the UK.
He has worked in many sectors of the hospitality industry including contract catering, airline catering, two-, four- and five-star hotels, private members clubs, retail restaurants and was assistant catering manager at Manchester United Football Club.
He has held faculty and management positions in seven colleges and Universities in the UK, Switzerland and the US. He was the dean at the Domino Carlton Tivoli Hotel Management School in Lucerne, Switzerland and dean and then founding director of research at the Lausanne Institute for Hospitality Research at the ecole hôtelière de Lausanne.
Before joining San Francisco State University, he served as professor and chair at San Jose State University. He has published in a number of leading hospitality and tourism journals including The Annals of Tourism Research, The Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Quarterly, and The International Journal of Hospitality Management and Managing Service Quality.
His research interests include services internationalization, small and medium size enterprises sustainability and social entrepreneurship.
Yateendra Sinh
Principal, YS & Associates – Switzerland
Yateendra Sinh
Principal, YS & Associates – Switzerland
Yateendra Sinh is a hospitality expert, who has been working at Board and senior executive level for more than three decades. Yateendra believes that the true value of an enterprise is developed through connecting the finer details, and human emotions, to a macro vision and concept.
He advises on the development of service enabled real estate projects, townships and tourism destinations. He has project experience in 60+ countries and several high-end brands, including, W, Dusit, Nestlé, Nespresso, Mandarin Oriental, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Häagen-Dazs, Rotana, Jumeirah, Oberoi.
Yateendra works out of Switzerland and maintains his connection with his roots in India.
Florin Jianu
President, Young Entrepreneurs of the European Union
Florin Jianu
President, Young Entrepreneurs of the European Union
Florin Jianu graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics of the University of Bucharest, Department of Applied Mathematics in English. Later he attended postgraduate studies at the National School of Political and Administrative Studies in Bucharest, Faculty of Management.
He represented the business environment for 8 years as president of the National Council of SMEs in Romania, the most powerful organization of SMEs in Romania. He is Vice-President of the European Union of SMEs (SMEunited) and Honorary President of the Organisation of Young Entrepreneurs in Europe (JEUNE).
He was twice a minister in the Ministry for Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship. His work focused on a new law dedicated to SMEs, a strategy for the business environment 2014-2020, the law dedicated to business incubators, the introduction of the 1% tax rate for micro-enterprises that have one or more employees, the SME Invest program and the introduction of holiday vouchers. Also, Florin Jianu is the creator of the "Start-up Nation – Romania" program, the most successful program in Romania aimed at stimulating the establishment of new small and medium-sized enterprises.
Florin Jianu is a supporter of the national and European business environment, whose vision is based on innovation and encouraging entrepreneurship among young people, militating for placing Romania as the country with the most attractive business environment in South-Eastern Europe.
Dragoș Petrescu
President, City Grill Group
Dragoș Petrescu
President, City Grill Group
Dragoș Petrescu is a self-made entrepreneur who started from scratch (selling newspapers in University Square) and, through many experiences in the retail sector, became one of the most well-known voices in the HoReCa industry (City Grill Group).
Dragoș discovered his passion for business in the 1990s, making him one of the pioneers of entrepreneurship in Romania. He has always prioritized education, both through traditional channels and especially through “best experience” learning.
Dragoș leads the largest network of traditional restaurants in Romania: City Grill, alongside Daniel Mischie. The two founded the group in 2004. He is also active in the delivery market in Bucharest with City Grill Delivery, ranking among the top five players in the delivery market in the capital since the pandemic year of 2020.
Gabriel Iovu
CEO and founder, Expressoft Technology
Gabriel Iovu
CEO and founder, Expressoft Technology
Gabriel Iovu is a seasoned business executive with a wealth of experience in management, technology, and hospitality. As CEO and founder of Expressoft Technology, he has spearheaded the development and launch of cutting-edge, cloud-based solutions that drive both strategic growth and operational excellence.
In addition to his leadership role at Expressoft, Gabriel serves as an Associate Professor at The Bucharest University of Economic Studies and is a faculty member at the Center for Creative Leadership, where he focuses on transformational leadership, innovation, and strategic management.
With a global business background spanning Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the USA, Gabriel has collaborated with organizations across diverse industries. He is actively involved in professional communities such as Romanian Business Leaders, AmCham, and TechAngels, further showcasing his dedication to advancing business and technology in Romania and beyond.
Gabriel holds a Global Executive MBA from IE Business School and is currently enhancing his expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship at Stanford University. His commitment to continuous learning and leadership development reinforces his reputation as a visionary leader, dedicated to making a positive impact on the business world.
Prof. Dr Eng. Ray F. Iunius
CEO, winsed.swiss
Prof. Dr Eng. Ray F. Iunius
CEO, winsed.swiss
Dr Ray F. Iunius is the author of various academic and professional articles published by journals in the management of services, technology, and innovation. He is also the author of a number of books such as « Industrie de l’accueil », « Hôtellerie de Luxe », « La gestion des spas », “Un Hôtel, un modèle ?” in de Boeck editions and co-author of the “Lausanne Report on the future of Hospitality Industry.”
In the last 20 years Ray occupied different management positions at EHL education Groups. He is also the founder of the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship (EHLITE), the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (INTEHL), the Students Business Projects (SBP), the EHLITE magazine, and the Chair of Innovation Paul Dubrule.
Ray is today CEO of winsed.swiss education group (WEG) SA, an integrated group of educational institutions comprising professional and vocational programs, soon universities and post-secondary education schools in the service industry.
As Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Business and Economics (HEC) of the University of Lausanne, he is currently teaching Strategic Consulting Projects and Service Operations Management.
Ray earns an MBA and PhD from the University of Lausanne and a BSc, MS and PhD in Technical Sciences from the University of Transylvania Brasov.
