Premier Inn Appoints New Leaders for German Operations
Hotel chain Premier Inn, part of Whitbread, has expanded its German leadership team with the appointment of Christopher Presland as Chief Commercial Officer and Chris-Norman Sauer as Managing Director Property. These appointments support the company's growth in the German market.
Premier Inn, the UK-based hotel chain owned by Whitbread, has strengthened its German executive team with two key appointments. Christopher Presland assumed the role of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Managing Director for Premier Inn Germany on May 1, 2025. Chris-Norman Sauer will succeed Michael Hartung as Managing Director Property for Premier Inn Germany & Austria, effective June 1, 2025, as Hartung retires. Both Presland and Sauer will join the Germany Operating Committee (GOC), Premier Inn Germany's leadership team headed by CEO Erik Friemuth.
The expansion of the leadership team coincides with Premier Inn's significant growth in the German market. The company currently operates 62 hotels with 11,000 rooms in Germany and Austria, and agreements for nearly 40 additional properties have been signed. The company aims to reach 20,000 rooms by 2030.
"I am delighted that we have gained a colleague with extensive experience like Christopher Presland," said Erik Friemuth, CEO of Premier Inn Germany. "He will be a valuable addition to our team. The same applies to Chris-Norman Sauer, whose promotion is well-deserved. I would also like to thank Michael Hartung for his work over the past six years. He has built a strong team that has signed agreements for 101 hotel projects, making a crucial contribution to Premier Inn's expansion in Germany."
Presland previously held senior marketing and sales positions at TUI Deutschland. Sauer has a background in property development and acquisitions, having worked for GBI AG, a major hotel property developer in Germany.