Marcliffe, Aberdeen’s only AA five-star hotel, has appointed experienced North East hospitality leader, Jordan Charles, as its new Managing Director, with responsibility for guiding the business through its next phase of growth and investment, including the development of the recently acquired neighbouring Woodbank site.
Charles brings over a decade of leadership experience in hospitality and leisure, joining Marcliffe from Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course, where over seven years in roles including General Manager and latterly Managing Director, he delivered strong commercial and operational performance, increasing turnover from £3.8 million in 2019 to £6.6 million by April 2025. During this period, Meldrum House secured multiple national and regional accolades, including Scottish Thistle and Catey awards, and earned recognition as one of the UK’s leading hotels. This period of sustained growth culminated in the successful sale of the business to Apex Hotels in 2024.
Prior to working at Meldrum House, Jordan held roles at Telford Hotel and Golf Resort in Shropshire, Cambridge Belfry, Cambridgeshire, and The Westerwood Hotel & Golf Resort, Cumbernauld. He is also a previous recipient of the Caterer Acorn Award (2021).
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Sir Jim Milne CBE, Chairman of Balmoral Group and Marcliffe, said: “Jordan has a strong track record and delivered exceptional results at Meldrum House. He brings a deep understanding of the local market and shares our vision for the future. At a pivotal time for Marcliffe, it was essential to appoint the right person to lead the next stage of development. Jordan has the experience and judgement needed to lead our next chapter with confidence.”
In his new role, Jordan will lead the integration and development of the neighbouring Woodbank site, acquired in November 2025, alongside the next phase of investment across the wider Marcliffe estate. Drawing on his experience overseeing complex hotel and leisure operations, he will shape the evolution of the hotel’s leisure offering, building on recent enhancements such as the £5.5m launch of new glass dome brasserie, Skylark, while remaining true to Marcliffe’s North East heritage and established standards.
Jordan Charles, Managing Director of Marcliffe, said: “Marcliffe is hugely important locally and there’s a clear expectation in the North East for the hotel to be the best it can be. What attracted me to the role is the opportunity to build on what is already a very strong foundation, including the opening of Skylark, and to help shape the next phase of development. My focus is on ensuring Marcliffe continues to deliver exceptional experiences, while evolving in a way that feels right for the hotel, the team and the region.”
