Bernard Columba, Head of Human Resources, Asia-Pacific – Absolute World Group

Bernard joins Absolute World Group as Head of Human Resources, Asia-Pacific, based at the Group’s Asia-Pacific Human Resource Department in Phuket, Thailand.

A more than 20-year management career that spans the globe with postings in such diverse locations as Singapore, Miami, Florida, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Afghanistan, Bernard’s most recent positions were in the Maldives. During his six years there, Bernard has worked with leading brands such as Jumeirah International, Six Senses and Anantara, before joining Absolute World Group where his responsibilities extend throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Bernard arrives at Absolute World Group from LVMH (Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton) where he was for the pre-opening of Cheval Blanc Maison, an exclusive high-end luxury resort in the Maldives, at which he held the position of Director of Human Capital Development.

Bernard is dedicated to volunteering and supporting a variety of charitable organisations, where the focus is to help people to improve their lives and lifestyles, a trait which complements well Absolute World Group’s dynamic Corporate Social Responsibility programme and initiatives across its locales of operation.

Versed in public speaking and knowledgeable in business and community relations, Bernard has spoken regularly at universities in Singapore, Malaysia, Maldives and recently at INSEAD (The Business School for the World®) Singapore campus.  In the Maldives where he is well respected by the business community, he has held regular forums with the Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism with its growth and development needs.

Bernard joins Absolute World Group at a dynamic time. In addition to the strategic re-organisation and improvement of traditional sales and marketing models, with new local and international marketing activities being implemented throughout the company, the sell-out success of Absolute Twin Sands Resort & Spa Phases I & II and recent launch of the final Phase III, and the 2015 opening of the Group’s first self-managed boutique Design HotelsTM resort in Samui, The Beach Samui, further underscore the Group’s commitment to Thailand.