Max Cergneux to head Hospitality for Knight Frank

Knight Frank has appointed Max Cergneux as head of Hospitality within its European Cross-Border Capital Markets team.

Max Cergneux

Cergneux will lead a specialised team dedicated to expanding Knight Frank's hospitality services across Mainland Europe, a sector currently experiencing significant growth.

Cergneux brings over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, combining deep operational knowledge with extensive capital markets expertise. His career includes senior leadership positions such as chief development officer and Executive Committee member at Louvre Hotels Group, where he oversaw global brand expansion, portfolio growth, and strategic partnerships. Earlier, he led international corporate development for Choice Hotels and spent several years at Marriott International, focusing on corporate and development finance across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, contributing to growth strategies, joint ventures, and investment transactions. He has a strong background in advising investors and operators on growth, transactions, and value creation in global hospitality markets.

In his new role, Cergneux will spearhead Knight Frank's new specialist hospitality team. His responsibilities will include supporting existing clients and identifying new growth opportunities across Europe. This newly formed team aims to enhance Knight Frank's offerings in the booming European hospitality sector, building upon the firm's strong history of high-profile transactions and strategic international services for its institutional, private equity, and Ultra High Net Worth client base.

Mike Bowden, partner and managing director of Europe at Knight Frank, commented: “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.

Max Cergneux, head of Hospitality, European Capital Markets at Knight Frank, 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.”