Former Ritz-Carlton Executive Steven Holt Joins 360bespoke As Its Chief Travel And Luxury Officer

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 360bespoke, New York's fastest-growing media agency, announced today five key additions to the firm as it continues to establish itself as a destination for global talents and brands in the luxury space.

Steven H. Holt, former Regional Director, Public Relations, Americas for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, has joined the boutique agency as its Chief Travel and Luxury Officer, a senior management position that will draw on his 20-plus years of experience in those categories.  During Holt's tenures he has opened multiple luxury hotels, rebranded and concepted restaurants, acted as a brand spokesman to the global media and advised senior leadership on media relations and crisis management.  "Steven is in a class by himself when it comes to the best in hospitality and global luxury," said Jeremy Murphy, President and CEO, 360bespoke. "He has an impeccable reputation throughout the industry and has its most envied media relationships. I have worked with him for more than 10 years and have come to know him as one of the smartest executives with the utmost professionalism, experience and taste."

As Chief Travel and Luxury Officer, Holt will lead the agency's efforts to increase the firm's clientele in those respective categories, which also comprise hospitality, dining, wine and spirits. Holt's experience with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company included leading media relations for the brand and its many properties throughout the Americas.  He will lead the agency's operations based in Beverly Hills, California.

The agency has also announced Rania Sedhom has been elevated as Chief Legal Counsel, a role in which she will continue to oversee all legal issues pertaining to the firm's business and operations.

Additionally, 360bespoke has appointed Kim Myers Robertson, a respected editorial and commercial photographer, as its Creative Director, where she will work with the company's client collection on image marketing and branding campaigns. The firm also has brought on Alexa Starr as its Director of Social Media & Engagement, drawing on the executive's interactive strategies and savvy in positioning artists and brands for Millennial audiences.

Bestselling author and journalist Sarah Rose also joins the 9-person advisory board for 360bespoke, bringing journalistic and literary experience to the agency. Her first published book, For All the Tea in China: How England Stole the World's Favorite Drink and Changed History (Viking) was a brisk seller in book stores around the country and named Book of the Week by the BBC.

"The addition of west coast leadership, three fantastic hires and a new member of our advisory board will help us continue to grow 360bespoke into an industry leader in the luxury space," said Murphy. "Steven, Rania, Kim, Alexa and Sarah all bring unique skill sets to our firm, which is a key component to our global strategy. We are very pleased to welcome them to 360bespoke."

Chief Legal Counsel Rania Sedhom has been advising 360bespoke since its April 2016 inception, and will continue to oversee all its legal affairs. "Rania was there from the start and has earned the trust and respect of our entire team," said Murphy. "She brings to us an incredible wealth of experience and deep knowledge of our firm, which she helped develop and launch."

As Creative Director of 360bespoke, Kim Myers Robertson will draw on her years of experience as a high-end commercial and editorial photographer to help clients achieve the imagery and design they desire for their brands. "Kim has a photographic eye like no other in the industry," said Murphy. "She has a keen ability to make any subject feel comfortable while capturing the most beautiful images. She is a top talent and an obvious choice to add to our growing family at 360bespoke."

Alexa Starr will oversee the firm's digital interactive strategy and execution as Director of Social Media & Engagement. In that role, she'll identify behaviors and platforms to help clients expand their marketing efforts to Millennials and social media influencers. Starr comes to 360bespoke from CORR Capital, a private equity firm where she helped identify investment opportunities.

"Alexa has established herself as a savvy executive with a deep understanding of Millennials and how they engage with brands and media," said Murphy. "It is vitally important we have someone with her expertise to advise our clients on how to reach broader audiences."

Biographies:

Steven H. Holt is a luxury branding and hospitality executive with more than 20 years of public relations, marketing and media strategy experience working with luxury brands, including 12 years at The Ritz-Carlton. Joining the company in 2004, he directed public relations, marketing and communications for its Bachelor Gulch resort, one of the flagship properties of the hotel collection. While there, he developed and executed national media for the relaunch of its signature restaurant as Spago by the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group.

From there he was the key media leader for the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe and its Manzanita restaurant, created by celebrity chef Traci Des Jardins. Following the opening, Holt relocated to San Francisco where he directed media relations for three Northern California Ritz-Carlton Hotels. Moving to Los Angeles in 2013, he took over media strategy for The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of Hawaii and Colorado while also executing the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage.

Holt was later promoted to Regional Director, Public Relations, The Americas where he directed media strategy for 49 hotels in North and South America and was part of the team that created the Social Media Influencer strategy. Holt departed The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to launch his on-going consultancy, Steven Holt Communications and joins 360bespoke as Chief Travel and Luxury Officer based in Beverly Hills, California.

Rania Sedhom is currently a Managing Partner of her own law firm, Sedhom Law Group. She also serves as Counsel for Willems Advocaten & Rechtsanwälte N.V. and is a Member of the Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Committee, ABCNY. Additionally, she is a legal and business commentator with national appearances in print and on broadcast media, including Bloomberg Radio, The Today Show, Luxury Daily, the L.A. Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Baltimore Sun, Forbes, Inc., Business Week and CNN Money.

Kim Myers Robertson's inquisitive eye, cinematic approach and discerning point of view have drawn the attention of some of the world's best-known publications and brands, including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, Moet, Covergirl and Clinique. At age 18, Myers Robertson moved to Paris to study at the Paris Fashion Institute, and then came back to New York to intern for legendary photographer Francesco Scavullo. She also continued her education at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design and School of Visual Design. In addition to photography she directs video and has worked with luxury brands such as Clinique, New Beauty, Nest and Gap Kids, among others.

Alexa Starr is a young executive who previously helped identify companies, brands and talents worthy of investment at the CORR private equity firm. Her expertise stems from her youthful handle on media consumption by younger audiences.

Sarah Rose is a journalist and author, currently at work on a book about 39 women who parachuted into occupied France during World War II to arm and train the resistance. A Ungentlemanly War: The Women of Churchill's Secret Army will be published by Crown in 2018. As a reporter in New York, Miami and Hong Kong, she has covered a range of beats – cops, courts, schools, diplomacy, food, travel, celebrities, equities and labor. Rose writes The Wall Street Journal's "Dynasties" column, profiling New York's real estate billionaires, and is the dating columnist for Men's Fitness. In 2015, the Society of Professional Journalists awarded her First Place in Reporting for her feature on the last roundup of wild cattle in Hawaii.

360bespoke (www.360bespoke.com) is an all-inclusive media agency offering bespoke services in public relations, marketing, brand management, content development, media training and events. The firm was started by former CBS executive Jeremy Murphy and his CBS colleague Joe Wilson. With a very select group of first-class clients, talents, brands and endeavors in its collection, 360bespoke concentrates its experience in the luxury, travel, fashion, beauty, lifestyle and arts categories.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Joe Wilson
Chief of Staff
Joe@360bespoke.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161209/447488
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161031/434306LOGO

SOURCE 360bespoke