Knight Frank has appointed Max Cergneux as head of hospitality within its European cross-border capital markets team.
Cergneux, who has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, has held senior leadership roles within the international hotel industry, including serving as chief development officer and executive committee member at Louvre Hotels Group.
Earlier in his career, he led international corporate development initiatives for Choice Hotels and spent several years at Marriott International focusing on corporate and development finance across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
At Knight Frank, he will lead the firm’s new specialist team, supporting existing clients while identifying new growth opportunities across the continent.
Mike Bowden, partner and managing director of Europe at Knight Frank, said: “With sustained client appetite for hospitality allocation, this is a key appointment as we aim to solidify Knight Frank’s position as the go-to adviser for transactions in the sector across mainland Europe. Max’s extensive expertise makes him a brilliant addition to Knight Frank. He understands the industry from every angle – operators, brands, investors and developers and will bring a highly international perspective that aligns with how our clients think and invest.
Cergneux added: “Knight Frank’s ability to access and connect a wide spectrum of capital, from institutional investors to private wealth, creates a real point of differentiation in today’s market. In hospitality, where transactions are increasingly complex and cross-border, that breadth of relationships will allow us to structure solutions that others simply can’t deliver. I look forward to working with colleagues from across the business as we drive growth in what is an exciting and fast-moving sector.”
