We are Building our Future Today
Our team
Success does not come by itself. Behind completed projects, finished buildings and ongoing operations are many clever minds who think it all through and energetic hands which pull together. Get to know a part of our Success team here!
Michael Friedrich
Via barkeeper to CEO: Today, Michael Friedrich is our CEO and Managing Director. Before taking up this position, he first went out into the world to get to know the industry from different perspectives. For example, he lived in South Africa for two years and successfully managed the F&B division of several 5-star hotels there.
When he finally returned home in 2007 and joined the family business, he had packed many impressions and ideas, which he initially implemented as Brand & Marketing Manager of the Success Hotel Group. He gradually assumed operational responsibility for the company’s hotels until he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in 2014.
Michael Friedrich has maintained his hands-on mentality in this role and is actively working on the integration of innovative technologies for the strategic further development of the business areas and for the optimization of internal processes.
Area of responsibility
- Strategic and operational management of the Success Hotel Group
- Expansion of the market position
- Budget, financial and investment planning and control
- Personnel management and development
Thomas Bosse
We can count on him: Thomas Bosse is one of our longest serving employees. The trained restaurant specialist and business economist gained his operational knowledge during his time as Deputy General Manager at the Clubhotel Hochsauerland in Winterberg. In 2002, he joined the head office of the Success Hotel Group, where he was responsible for setting up the purchasing department and was appointed Director of F&B.
Since 2014, he has been an authorised signatory and a member of the Executive Board. As Chief Development Officer, he is the first point of contact when it comes to the development of new hotel projects as well as equipment and purchasing. In his department, hotel plans are not only designed, but also implemented with determination – and always with a successful mixture of creativity and cost efficiency.
Dr. Axel Kunze
Safe in law: Dr. Axel Kunze translates complex legal framework conditions for our company into understandable, practical recommendations for action. The experienced fully qualified lawyer and in-house lawyer has been advising our company on all legal issues since 2020 and is responsible for contract management for all departments. In addition, as General Counsel he structures the management of (sometimes unavoidable) legal disputes and, in addition, the conflict management in advance.
Dr. Axel Kunze has been working as a lawyer since 1995 and has worked in various international law firms in Cologne, Frankfurt a. M. and Berlin. Since 1998, advising hotel groups and companies has been one of his areas of expertise. Thus, he brings comprehensive industry knowledge to our international expansion. He completed his studies at the University of Bonn and in the USA at Southwestern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Thomas Leib
He knows the way: When it comes to facts, figures and trends in the industry, Dr. Thomas Leib as Chief Acquisition Officer is the right contact person. Since 2001, he has been advising our business partners on locations, brands and economic factors, thus winning new hotel projects for us.
During his international career, he gained experience at Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. He became acquainted with the academic side during a research and teaching assignment as Adjunct Professor and Assistant Director of the School of Hospitality Business Management for the College of Business of the renowned Washington State University.
In 2017, Dr. Thomas Leib was appointed authorized signatory and is a member of the Executive Board.
Martin Pleiß
Vital link: At Martin Pleiss, all the threads from the sales, revenue and marketing departments come together. Since 2018, he has been managing all turnover-based areas of the Success Hotel Group as Chief Revenue Officer and has been ensuring that all departments work together to achieve the best possible corporate result. In 2019, he was appointed authorized signatory of the Success Hotel Group and is a member of the Executive Board.
Before that, the trained hotel specialist and state-certified business economist had already achieved a lot within the company: In 2012, he opened the Holiday Inn Express Augsburg as General Manager, successfully managing it for two years until he joined the head office as Director of Sales. There, he further expanded the revenue management division, which he also managed from 2015 as Director of Sales & Revenue. As Director of Means-End Relations, Martin Pleiss also took over the management of the marketing division in 2017.
Peter Beling
Munich-born: Peter Beling has been with the Success Hotel Group for many years, most recently as General Manager of two of our hotels. At the end of 2019 he moved to the head office as Director of Acquisition. He supports us in hotel development, evaluates hotel projects according to our location requirements and creates new hotel concepts.
Mr. Beling already knew during his studies of hotel management in Brussels that the hotel industry would become his specialty. During his international career he gained experience at the Hilton Hotel in Brussels and Paris as well as at Fleming’s Hotel in Zurich, Vienna and Munich.
Holger Döringer
Really comprehends the numbers: Holger Döringer is our financial strategist, identifies possibilities for budget optimisation and makes potential risks calculable. As Director of Finance, he maintains an overview of the company’s financial position and is responsible for finance, accounting and controlling. In November 2020, Holger Döringer was appointed authorised signatory.
Before Holger Döringer joined our Success team in 2019, the business administration graduate (FH) worked as an authorised signatory and unit manager for the finance and IT departments of a trade fair construction company.
Gaby Mader
With attention to detail: Nothing in our hotels escapes Gaby Mader’s watchful eyes. As Director of Quality Assurance since 2013, she has ensured that both, brand standards and our group guidelines, are adhered to. In close consultation with various units such as operational management, housekeeping or maintenance, she works on concepts and tests new products or processes in order to further increase the high quality level of our hotels and restaurants.
Gaby Mader knows the hotel business like the back of her hand, as the trained hotel manager has been working in the industry since 1988 and has gained experience in boarding hotels as well as luxury hotels.
Henrik Mészáros
A real northern light: Henrik Mészáros has been responsible for all hotels and hotel openings of our group in northern Germany since 2019 and together with Marc Riewe, Director of Operations South, forms our operational management. In close coordination with the executive board and other departments of the head office, he ensures the smooth running of the hotel operations. For the hotels, he is the first point of contact for operational matters.
Henrik Mészáros experienced the versatility of everyday hotel life through various positions in 4- and 5-star hotels, most recently as General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express Bremen Airport, until he was promoted to Director of Operations IHG and Pre-Openings in 2017 and established a branch of our head office in Bremen.
Marc Riewe
At home in the south: Marc Riewe has been responsible for all hotels and hotel openings of our group in southern Germany since 2019 and together with Henrik Mészáros, Director of Operations North, forms our operational management. In close coordination with the executive board and other departments of the head office, he ensures the smooth running of the hotel operations. For the hotels, he is the first point of contact for operational matters.
Marc Riewe has been part of our Success team since 2006, when he opened the Holiday Inn Express Baden-Baden and then successfully managed it for four years as General Manager. In 2011, he took over the hotel management of the Hilton Garden Inn Stuttgart NeckarPark until he was promoted to Director of Operations ibis Styles in 2015. In 2017, as Director of Operations Accor Franchise, he also took over all other Accor brands in our group until the expansion course led to the structuring of the group into northern and southern Germany.
Arno Schuh
Pre-programmed success: As Director of Technology, Arno Schuh drives the technological vision of our company. In close consultation with the executive board, he evaluates new and growing technologies and their benefits for our Group. Digitalisation is just as important as data security.
IT and hotel business, the trained hotel specialist knows both areas very well. Before joining the Success Hotel Group in 2019, he held positions as team leader in the areas of hotel applications and systems support, followed by a position as Head of Network, Security and Datacenter at Accor.
Holger Steilen-Brand
With an eye for the people: Holger Steilen-Brand has been working for the Success Hotel Group for many years and it is impossible to imagine the Human Resource department without him. Most recently as Head of Human Resources, he was appointed Director of Human Resources in November 2020. In close cooperation with the management, he is building up an innovative, future-oriented human resource management, developing a standardized, attractive Employer Value Proposition and advising the managers in all personnel matters.
The trained hotel and personnel specialist has over 20 years of professional experience in the field of human resources and administration. Before moving to the head office, he was Deputy General Manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Stuttgart NeckarPark.
Norman Zisowski
Safety and security: Norman Zisowski, as Director of Compliance, is responsible for all issues relating to data protection, occupational safety and PCI compliance in our hotels and head office.
After completing his education as a hotel specialist, Mr. Zisowski gained extensive experience as F&B Manager, Regional Sales Manager and General Manager in two of our hotels. He also completed education as data protection officer and as a specialist for occupational safety. In 2016 he moved to the head office as Head of Sales & Revenue and was appointed Director of Compliance in November 2020.
