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David Cottam

COO & Partner at Talent Hive | Headhunting for UAE Hospitality | Director & Head of UAE at Hotal
20.5 yrs experienceHospitality
Sep 2025

The move

MoveSolutions Leisure Group → Hotal, Total Hospitality
TitleTalent Acquisition Manager → Director & Head of UAE
LocationDubai → Dubai
Career arcRecent arrival
Cross-border moveNo — same country
Years in UAE8.1
Total experience20.5 years

Career arc

  1. Chief Operating Officer - MENAMar 2026 — Present
    Talent Hive | B Corp™· Dubai, United Arab Emirates· Self-employed
  2. Director & Head of UAESep 2025 — Present
    Hotal, Total Hospitality· Dubai, United Arab Emirates· Full-time
  3. Talent Acquisition ManagerDec 2023 — Sep 2025
    Solutions Leisure Group· Dubai, United Arab Emirates· Full-time
  4. Retail & Leisure Performance ManagerAug 2017 — Dec 2023
    Liverpool ONE· Liverpool, United Kingdom· Full-time
  5. Leisure Performance ManagerAug 2017 — Sep 2019
    Liverpool ONE· Liverpool, England, United Kingdom· Full-time
  6. F&B Operations ManagerJan 2016 — May 2017
    Habtoor Hospitality· The Atrium- Al Habtoor City, Dubai
  7. General ManagerJan 2014 — Dec 2015
    The Gramercy· DIFC, Dubai
  8. Bar ManagerOct 2011 — Dec 2013
    MAHIKI DUBAI· Dubai
  9. Area Operations ManagerFeb 2009 — Sep 2011
    Exipro Ltd - The Farriers, The Albany and The Squirrel· Guildford, United Kingdom
  10. Cocktail BartenderSep 2007 — Dec 2008
    Living Ventures Group of Companies· Leeds, England, United Kingdom
  11. General ManagerDec 2004 — Jun 2007
    ASK Italian· Lancaster, United Kingdom

Education

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