The Hand Picked Board of Directors
Julia Hands – Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
As the owner of Hand Picked Hotels Julia is the driving force behind the unique style of Hand Picked Hotels and the atmosphere of relaxed indulgence that is prevalent in all properties.
Douglas Waddell – Operations Director
An experienced hotel, leisure, and multi-site operator with more than 30 years of sector experience. Douglas is committed to ensuring that all of Hand Picked Hotels’ product and service values are maintained and the commercial goals of the company are achieved.
Peter Herbert – Chief Financial Officer.jpg)
Peter joined Hand Picked Hotels in August 2022. Peter is a Chartered Accountant, having trained and spent more than 10 years with Ernst & Young, working in both UK and US offices as well as with Hotel businesses operating across the UK and EMEA. In his role at Hand Picked Hotels, he is focused on driving the group's profitability and supporting the realisation of its growth strategy.
Daniel Ashworth – Group Food & Beverage Director
Daniel joined Hand Picked Hotels in August 2022. Over the last twenty years, he has worked for some of the leading luxury Hotels, Members Clubs, and Restaurant Groups in the industry. He is focused on maintaining high standards across our group's food and beverage offerings as well as driving our innovation and concept development.
Melanie Nicholas – Creative Marketing Director
Melanie joins us with a long, international career in marketing having worked as Chief Marketing Officer for Universal Pictures, European brand consultant for ODEON Cinemas Group, and Marketing Advisor for Roasting Plant Coffee, which she continues to support. With her extensive experience, she is keen to devise and enhance Hand Picked Hotel's marketing strategy after being nominated for an industry marketing award for her campaign "Ask Me" with St John Ambulance earlier this year.
Deborah Seymour – People Director.jpg)
Deb joined Hand Picked Hotels in 2000 bringing with her a wealth of hotel operational and training experience. Since heading up the people function in 2013, Deb has been focused on driving organisational performance and excellence in customer service through the strength of its people.
