Adrian EllisThe five star Lowry Hotel has appointed a new manager following its multi-million pound takeover by the Westmont Hospitality Group. Adrian Ellis, a former manager of the Manchester Marriott Hotel, will take over from current general manager Peter Kienast, who is leaving The Lowry after five years to become general manager of Rocco Forte’s Hotel de Rome in Berlin. The Lowry had been owned by Rocco Forte for 13 years, but a multi-million pound deal was completed by Westmont and its investment partner Mount Kellett Capital Management, in September. Adrian, aged 51, has 24 years’ experience managing luxury international properties in the UK, Europe and Asia, and will take up his new role in February. He is returning to Manchester for the first time since 1999 where he was previously the General Manager of the former Victoria and Albert Hotel in Manchester. Since then he has enjoyed a successful career managing prestige hotels worldwide. He joins The Lowry from his role as General Manager of the 318-bedroom Fairmont Baku Hotel in Azerbaijan where he spent more than three years initially responsible for pre-opening operations of the iconic hotel which forms part of the prestigious Flame Towers complex.