Profile

Pekka Hirvi

Assistant Vice President - Business Development, Middle East, Africa & Turkey
The Ascott Limited

Pekka Hirvi is Assistant Vice President – Business Development, Middle East, Africa & Turkey at The Ascott Limited (Ascott), where he leads the company’s business development and strategic expansion across the region. He is responsible for sourcing, structuring, and executing hospitality and branded residence opportunities, with a particular focus on key markets including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Pekka brings nearly 20 years of experience across the hospitality and real estate sectors, with a track record in development, corporate finance, and investment analysis. His experience includes working closely with developers, sovereign-linked entities, institutional investors, and private investors across the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, as well as Europe and Asia. Within Ascott, Pekka plays a key role in advancing the company’s growth strategy across the MEAT region, supporting expansion into high-growth and emerging markets. Prior to his current role, he was based at Ascott’s global headquarters in Singapore, where he led franchise and development initiatives, focusing on international partnerships, new market entry, and expansion of the group’s global portfolio. Before joining Ascott, Pekka held roles with leading hospitality groups including Jumeirah and Accor, where he focused on corporate finance and business development. His career has been centered on bridging commercial strategy with operational requirements to deliver sustainable and bankable hospitality developments. Pekka holds an Executive MBA from the National University of Singapore, a Bachelor of Hospitality Management from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Finland, and an Associate Degree in International Hospitality Operations from The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Dubai, UAE.