As Fairmont Hotels & Resorts continues to grow, Kent will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of sales and marketing strategies, plans, and budgets for new and transitional Fairmont properties in the Middle East and Africa,' said Barnes.

'He will also retain the responsibility of monitoring and maximizing existing strategies for operational hotels within these critically important regions.'

Cooper brings a wealth of knowledge to this position with over 15 years of experience with leading hospitality companies, including Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and Hilton Hotels, both of which he has held progressive positions within properties in the United States. He joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 1999 as Director, Group Sales for The Plaza in New York.

Following this post, he took on the role of Director of Sales for the Fairmont Dubai, and was an instrumental part of the pre opening team for the first international property in the company's portfolio. It was in this position that Cooper effectively established Fairmont's Middle East flagship as one of the most prominent landmarks in the financial district.

In 2003, Cooper was promoted to Director, Sales & Marketing and three years later, he was appointed as Regional Director, Sales & Marketing, Middle East & Africa, and was responsible for the sales and marketing initiatives for upcoming projects in the development pipeline including properties in Egypt, The Palm Jumeirah, Abu Dhabi, Makkah (Saudi Arabia), Kenya and South Africa. In 2007, he was promoted to Executive Director, Sales & Marketing, Middle East & Africa.

Cooper holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Ohio State University, in Columbus, United States. He serves on the board of the Dubai chapter of The Mission to Seafarers, an organisation that provides humanitarian assistance to seafarers worldwide. He lives in Dubai with his wife Barbara and their two children, Maxwell and MacKenzie.