Emerging Travel Group Appoints New Executive Chairman

Emerging Travel Group, an international online travel group that operates in over 100 source markets with the brands RateHawk, ZenHotels, and Ostrovok, recently appointed global technology entrepreneur and Board Member, Lev Leviev, as its Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer.

Leviev will be responsible for the company’s strategy development and execution. Prior to his formal appointment, Leviev had been working closely with Emerging Travel Group’s CEO Felix Shpilman in an advisory capacity.

“His strong company-building experience and thoughtful approach to growth is invaluable and will help Emerging Travel Group continue its global expansion,” Emerging Travel Group CEO Felix Shpilman said.

Commenting on the appointment, Lev Leviev said: “Emerging Travel Group’s team has already achieved success in multiple markets; in my new role I plan to help the Group solidify its success in B2B and become one of the global leaders in the space.”

Leviev possesses extensive operational experience. He is a co-founder of the largest social network in Russia VK.com, where he held the position of Chief Operating Officer from 2006 to 2012. In 2007 he co-founded Selectel, a leading provider of IT infrastructure with a wide range of products and services in Russia, and served as its CEO from 2014 to 2017.

Lev currently serves as a chairman of the board at Selectel, and as a board member at Emerging Travel Group and Fnatic, a global eSports organization.

In 2019, Lev Leviev’s investment group, LVL1 Group, led a $19 million fundraising for Fnatic, as well as a $10 million financing round for Emerging Travel Group.

Emerging Travel Group’s brand RateHawk, a global innovative online travel booking service for professionals, launched operations in the Greek market earlier this year.