Career
Reto Wittwer was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Kempinski Hotel Group between 1995 and 2014. Previously, he served in several top executive positions in the Luxury Hospitality industry (President and Chief Executive Officer of CIGA Hotels from 1992 to 1995, from 1987 to 1992 in various positions with Swisshotel Group, including General Manager/Vice President Far East Asia, Senior Vice President for Operations and eventually President and Chief Executive Officer). He also served as a Director of Johnson Diversey Incorporated. since 2002.
Reto Wittwer was born in Switzerland.
He is a graduate of the renowned Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL)
After his successful studies he started his hotel career at the Palace Hotel in Madrid. The following six years he worked for InterContinental Hotels in Paris, Frankfurt, Geneva and Tehran.
In 1976 he was appointed to Director of Food & Beverage of the Mandarin Singapore International. Two years later Wittwer moved to the Peninsula Group in Hong Kong.
In March 1979 Wittwer joined Hyatt International and worked in Canada, Mexico and Indonesia, taking on his first General Manager role aged just 30.
In 1982 Wittwer returned to Paris as General Manager of the Le Méridien Montparnasse. Five years later he changed to the Swissair Nestlé Swissôtel Limited as Vice President Asia. During his five years with Swissôtel he was promoted to Senior Vice President Operations and was then appointed President & Chief Executive Officer.
In 1992, Wittwer joined Ciga South.p.A. as President & Chief Executive Officer.
Most recently he was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Board of World Tourism Forum Lucerne.
