London, 13 July 2026: Splendid Hospitality Group (SHG), one of the UK’s fastest-growing privately owned hospitality groups, announces the promotion of Emma Yearwood to Chief People Officer and her appointment to the Board.
Emma joined SHG in April 2025 as Group People Director, bringingover 15 years’ experiencein HR leadership. Previously holding roles within EMEA and global organisations, Emma is experienced at delivering large scale transformation projects and aligning innovative HR strategies to business goals.
Leading the people strategy for SHG’s 2,500 employees across hotels, restaurants, care homes and head office, Emma will be responsible for ensuring the business has the talent, leadership capability and organisational strength to support its next phase of growth. Her focus will span enhancing the employee experience and preserving the values driven culture that underpins the exceptional guest experiences SHG is known for.
Nadeem Boghani, Executive Chairman, SHG, says: “We believe it is the talent, dedication and passion of our people that drives our success. Welcoming Emma to the Board is a reinforcement of that belief and underlines the emphasis we place on growing the careers of our people. Emma’s people-first approach and experience navigating teams through rapid growth will be core to how we create opportunities, for our people and for the business as we expand our portfolio.”
Emma Yearwood, Chief People Officer, SHG, comments: “People sit at the very heart of SHG’s business, whether that’s those driving the business forward from within, the guests we serve or the partners we work with. By nurturing capabilities, anchoring values and harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit that runs throughout the organisation, our teams will continue to be poised to deliver on SHG’s goals and contribute to the business’ long-term success.”
SHG recently announced it will be opening an additional 500 rooms across its hotel portfolio in the coming 3-5 years. Further expansion is also anticipated across restaurants, mixed-use development and care homes as planning consents are approved.
Notes to Editors:
About Splendid Hospitality Group
Splendid Hospitality Group, controlled and directed by Shiraz and Nadeem Boghani, is the owner, operator, and developer of a portfolio of 24 hotels with over 2500 bedrooms as well as over 40 quick service restaurants (KFC & Chaiiwala) and 4 care homes (Splendid Care).
It is one of the UK’s fastest-growing privately-owned hospitality groups which has made a name for itself through the design, construction, and operation of a full range of hotel styles and locations across the UK, ranging from select service to luxury. The group enjoys the support of major franchisors such as Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Accor. The portfolio includes York’s only five-star hotel, The Grand, York and Hilton London Bankside, a phenomenal design-led property on London’s Southbank.
For two consecutive years, SHG’s 5-star hotel The Grand, York has earned recognition from The Caterer as one of the UK’s Best Places to Work. In 2025, London Hilton Bankside was also celebrated in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list. www.shg.co.uk
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