Lourie Kruger is a globally experienced investment professional executive with more than 20 years’ international experience in banking, real assets and hospitality, gained in over 35 countries, and throughout the investment lifecycle: from origination and underwriting, through active management, to disposal/exit.

Prior to joining Katara Hospitality, he headed up the M&A and Finance functions across Africa and Middle East for Westmont Hospitality Group (WHG), one of the world’s largest private owner/operators of hotels.

Lourie has been based in the GCC since 2009, initially spending 10 years with Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI), a major investment company focused primarily on mixed-use real estate and hospitality with investments in 37 operating companies across 24 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and North America.

During his time at KHI, he was CFO of the company, responsible for overseeing the corporate finance activities of the company, treasury, and M&A initiatives, including leading the disposal drive that saw the company dispose of 32 portfolio companies over an 8-year period.

Before moving to the Middle East, he was working for a South African investment bank where he was a founding member of the African Real Estate team. Lourie holds degrees in Computer Sciences, Financial Economics, and an MBA from London Business School.