Hulhule Island Hotel promotes Ibrahim Naeem to Cluster Executive Chef
Hulhule Island Hotel has announced the promotion of Ibrahim Naeem from Executive Chef to Cluster Executive Chef, recognising his culinary expertise, strong leadership and continued contribution to the organisation.
In his expanded role, Ibrahim will provide strategic culinary leadership across Hulhule Island Hotel and other food and beverage outlets managed by the hotel. His portfolio will include the seaplane lounge and the outlets operating at Velana International Airport’s new international passenger terminal.
As Cluster Executive Chef, Ibrahim will oversee culinary standards, menu development, innovation and team growth across the portfolio. He will ensure quality and consistency across each operation while supporting cost efficiency and distinctive guest experiences. His role will also extend to the development and delivery of new food and beverage projects.
The promotion comes as Hulhule Island Hotel continues to expand its culinary presence beyond the hotel and strengthen its role in delivering quality dining experiences across key airport locations. Ibrahim’s extensive operational experience and understanding of both hospitality and high-volume food service position him well to lead this next stage of development.
Ibrahim returned to Hulhule Island Hotel as Executive Chef in January 2025, having previously served as Sous Chef and Kitchen Executive at the hotel from 2016 to 2019. During his earlier tenure, he led a strong culinary team and supported notable achievements at the Hotel Asia and FHAM culinary competitions.
His wider career includes serving as Director of Operations at KHG Hotels. He has also held the position of Country President of the World Association of Master Chefs since 2023 and has been a certified judge with the World Chef Organisation since 2021.
Throughout his career, Ibrahim has received several prestigious culinary recognitions, including a Gold Medal and first place at the 2012 Hotel Asia Culinary Challenge, the Most Outstanding Chef Award at the 2014 Hotel Asia Culinary Challenge, and first place at the Belt and Road Gastro Diplomacy Culinary Competition in China in 2017.
Commenting on the promotion, Ali Shakir, Group General Manager of MIC Group, said, “Ibrahim’s promotion is a recognition of the leadership, discipline and culinary excellence he has demonstrated since returning to Hulhule Island Hotel. As our food and beverage presence expands beyond the hotel, his experience and ability to develop strong teams will be instrumental in maintaining consistent standards across our operations. We congratulate him and look forward to the contribution he will make in this expanded role.”
Speaking about his appointment, Ibrahim said, “I am honoured to take on the role of Cluster Executive Chef and grateful for the confidence placed in me. This new responsibility provides an exciting opportunity to work closely with our culinary teams across Hulhule Island Hotel and other outlets. Together, we will continue to strengthen our standards, introduce meaningful culinary experiences and deliver the quality our guests and customers expect.”
Ibrahim’s promotion reflects Hulhule Island Hotel’s commitment to recognising internal talent, strengthening Maldivian leadership and creating opportunities for professional growth within the hospitality industry.
