Fredrik Ekelund, 38, becomes new Senior Vice President of Quality Hotel in the Nordic Region. Recruitment is an important puzzle game, as the hotel chain Quality Hotel is heading for strong growth in the Nordic market. Ekelund comes from the role of Chief Operating Officer for the retail chain Nille.
In recent years, extensive development work has been started within Quality Hotel with the aim of growing as companies in new markets, developing guest experiences and continuing to build corporate culture to become one of the industry’s best. Now the work enters a new phase, and in order to provide further power for that work, the hotel chain has recruited Fredrik Ekelund as the new top manager of the Nordic business.
“Quality Hotel is on an exciting journey, moving from quality assurance services to creating surprising, new, exciting guest experiences. This is a journey that requires an extremely responsible leader with glow, great impetus and who sees commercial opportunities at the most. Based on this we have been looking for someone who understands how to build a big dream team of our more than 5,000 employees so that we get our ambitions to become reality. Fredrik is a person who owns all the parts we are looking for and I’m sure will come deliver from day one, “says Katalin Paldeak, Chief Operating Officer Nordic Choice Hotels.
Fredrik Ekelund is an MSc in Electronics Design at Linköping University of Technology and currently works as COO and responsible for the Norwegian retail chain of Nile’s commercial operations and development of concepts and marketing. Within Nille, Ekelund has worked to reprofile the chain, develop a clearer store concept and create added value for those customers who choose to visit the stores. Experience that is central to Quality Hotels development work.
“I am passionate about building strong teams. Team not only delivers experiences that make the guests come back but also makes the staff love going to work. Quality Hotel is in an incredibly exciting work that I want to be a part of. I love to think big, set high goals and then together with the employees deliver, “says Fredrik Ekelund, Executive Vice President Quality Hotel.
Ekelund’s previous work in, among other things, Deloitte, Orkla and not least Nille has caused many trips and many hotel nights over the years. Experiences he now takes in the new assignment.
“My ambition is to combine a big heart with daring to take more space, challenge and surprise. It is said that the hotel industry is very conservative. In the coming years, we will prove that it is not true. At least not at Quality Hotel, says Fredrik Ekelund.
Fredrik Ekelund was born and raised in Halmstad but has lived in Oslo with her family for many years. He will take up his new position on October 31st.
