Highgate Names Siim Karu Chief Commercial Officer for Europe
August 9, 2026
LONDON — Highgate has appointed Siim Karu to the role of chief commercial officer.
In this role, Karu will be responsible for leading the company’s commercial strategy across Europe, overseeing revenue management, sales, distribution, marketing, technology and performance optimization. He will work with Highgate’s operations, investment and asset management teams as the company continues to expand its European hospitality platform.
With more than 15 years of hospitality experience, Karu joins Highgate after four years as chief commercial officer with Generator and Freehand Hotels, where he worked on revenue strategy, technology initiatives and commercial operations across the portfolio. Prior to this, he held executive leadership positions with a&o Hostels and senior commercial roles with Penta Hotels and Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts.
Karu’s career experience as a commercial executive includes revenue management, pricing strategy, automation, business intelligence and commercial transformation.
“As we continue to grow and diversify our European platform, the alignment between operations and commercial strategy becomes increasingly important,” said Ben Thomas, Highgate’s chief operating officer for Europe. “Siim brings an exceptional combination of commercial leadership, analytical rigor and technological expertise. His ability to build strong partnerships across disciplines and translate strategy into measurable performance outcomes will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our capabilities, drive long-term value and position Highgate Europe for its next phase of growth.”
Highgate is a real estate investment and hospitality management company with more than $15 billion in assets under management. Its portfolio includes properties in the United States, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. The company’s investments and operations also extend to senior housing, multifamily properties, short-term rentals and other real estate-related businesses.
