Alvarez & Marsal appoints MD to co-lead travel & hospitality practice

Company expansion plans are the catalyst for the new appointment

Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has appointed Jorge Gilabert as a Managing Director to co-lead the Travel, Hospitality and Leisure practice in Europe, alongside Ed Bignold.

Based across A&M’s offices in Spain, Gilabert will leverage his more than 15 years of experience to drive strategic transformations for tourism and hospitality companies, from brand repositioning to comprehensive operational and balance sheet restructuring. 

His proven track record includes leading major business turnarounds, step-changing EBITDA, reducing net debt, and strengthening brand portfolios.

In the past he has led several M&A processes, from Programmatic M&A build-ups to full end-to-end management, including Commercial Due Diligence, Carve-outs and Post-Merger Integrations.

Most notably, Gilabert has worked closely with Federico Gonzalez during his CEO roles in NH Hotels, Radisson Hotels, and Louvre Hotel Group, playing a pivotal role in their strategic transformations. 

He has also led strategic planning for Spanish tourism and several international hospitality projects for brands like Jumeirah and others.

Before joining A&M, Gilabert was a Partner at Monitor Deloitte in Spain, where he led the consumer industries sectors and expanded the strategic consulting team. 

In this role, he spearheaded strategic projects for hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, airlines, fashion, consumer goods and retail companies.

Bignold, Managing Director and Head of A&M’s Travel, Hospitality & Leisure Practice, said: “I’m excited to welcome Jorge and to collaborate with him to co-lead the THL practice. His expertise in the hospitality and tourism sectors globally, paired with his leadership in managing complex business transformations, will help us further expand our geographic reach and deepen our capabilities. 

“Together, we’ll work closely to help our clients navigate challenges and deliver the solutions they need to thrive. We’re also committed to expanding our practice to meet the evolving demands of the industry and look forward to welcoming a number of new hires soon.”

Gilabert said of his appointment: “The hospitality, travel and leisure sector are undergoing rapid transformation … my vision is to help the sector close this gap by creating and recognizing enterprise value for current and future leaders.”