Francesco Sardelli named general manager of the Hari

Francesco Sardelli has been appointed general manager of the Hari in London's Belgravia.

He will be taking over from Andrew Coney in March, who will be retiring after nearly a decade at the property to travel around the world with his wife. During his tenure, he oversaw the transition from a Thompson-managed hotel named Belgraves to an independent boutique launched in August 2016, which has grown from strength to strength under his guidance.

Sardelli has more than 30 years' experience in the industry, having most recently been general manager of the St James's Hotel and Club and the Kensington hotel in London.

He started his career in hospitality at Grosvenor House hotel in London's Park Lane after studying transport and business in London. His previous experience also includes Baglioni in Kensington and Brown's and the Stafford in Mayfair.

Sardelli said: "I am thrilled to be appointed general manager at the Hari. I look forward to bringing my touch to this hotel already renowned for charisma, style and charm. Working with the wonderful Hari team will be a privilege and we will continue to grow the excellent hospitality delivered to all our many visitors".

Dr Aron Harilela, chairman and chief executive of Harilela Hotels, added: "We are very sorry to see Andrew leave the Hari and thank him for his immense contribution to the success of the hotel, we are however incredibly excited to see what Francesco will bring to the table. I have every faith that he will use his wealth of expertise to continue the hotel's positive achievements."

The Hari London opened in 2016 in the former site of the Belgraves hotel. It is owned by parent group Harilela Hotels, which was first established in 1959.