Richard Cooke has been appointed the position of general manager of The Balmoral, the Rocco Forte Hotel situated in the heart of Edinburgh.

Cooke brings 23 years of experience in hospitality management across a variety of five-star properties in Canada, USA, South East Asia and China.

He will be responsible for the day to day operations and strategic direction of the hotel, including 168 rooms and 20 suites.

Cooke joins from his position as area general manager of the Shangri-La Hotels in Toronto and Vancouver, having opened the Shangri-La Toronto.

Prior to this he spent ten years in various management positions with Shangri-La Hotels including general manager of Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, hotel manager of the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore and hotel manager of Pudong Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai.

Cooke started his hospitality career in the UK before moving to New Zealand and the Regent Hotel in Auckland.

Cooke said: “I am delighted on so many levels to take up this position.

“I get the chance to work with legendary hotelier Sir Rocco Forte.

“My dream has been to manage an iconic hotel, which the Balmoral without question is and I fulfil this in a city I have fallen in love with over the past few years.”