Steve Cokkinias is a value creation and customer relationship executive with over 30 years of experience in healthcare advisory and luxury hospitality. He helps FMG Leading’s clients identify opportunities to accelerate growth and drive business results through a focus on strategy, leadership, and human capital performance.
Prior to FMG Leading, Steve spent nearly 20 years in the hospitality industry. He began his career with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in the U.S. before joining Ritz-Carlton in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Steve held various leadership positions at three distinct Ritz-Carlton hotels before becoming the youngest General Manager in Ritz-Carlton history at the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia property, at age 29.
During Steve’s tenure as G.M. at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur, the hotel won numerous awards and accolades, including CNBC’s “Best Business Hotel in Malaysia”, Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List”, and Travel & Leisure’s “Greatest Hotels in the World”. Expedia named the hotel amongst the world’s top 1% on its “Insider Select List”, and the Independent U.K. named the hotel among “Top 5 Butler Hotels in the World”. Perhaps most notably while under Steve’s leadership, the hotel was named “Best Employer in Malaysia” four consecutive times by Hewitt & Associates during their biannual study. This earned him recognition on Human Capital Asia’s “Hot 40—Asia’s H.R. Superstars”, and as Malaysia’s “General Manager of the Year” in 2010.
As Principal at FMG Leading, Steve oversees the firm’s brand, marketing, public relations, sales operations, and client strategic growth initiatives.
While in Malaysia, Steve was elected to the Board of Governors of the American-Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), and he served on the Steering Committee of the U.S. Embassy-based Overseas Security Advisory Committee (OSAC). In addition, he has assisted with the pre-opening of five Ritz-Carlton properties worldwide, including The Ritz-Carlton, Doha (Qatar) and The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou (China). Steve is a frequent guest lecturer at the globally-ranked University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, where he is also a member of the Hospitality Management Advisory Board.
Steve is an established and sought-after speaker. He has delivered programs and keynotes on service, culture, and leadership to a range of international companies, including: Citibank, Mercedes-Benz, Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC, BMW, Prudential, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Volvo, Health Integrated, and Toyota. Steve previously authored a column on EHotelier.com, the world’s largest online hospitality community, where he shared stories and insights gained during his hotel career.
Steve earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and Sociology from Washington and Lee University, and a Master of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.
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