David Mottl, a Michelin star chef, has joined Corinthia St Petersburg Hotel as executive chef.

He joins from Starwood’s St Regis hotel in Langkawi, Malaysia where he was pre-opening executive chef for the opening in 2016.

German-born Mottl has more than 20 years’ experience in the culinary and hospitality fields, executive sous chef at another Starwood property, the W in St Petersburg where he helped re-brand the restaurant from Alain Ducasse to W Hotel in 2015.

His career has taken him around the world, to Switzerland, Ireland, the USA (in New York as chef poissonnier at Restaurant Lutece), and Germany, and he is now looking forward to returning to St Petersburg to join Corinthia.

“I’m looking forward to joining a dynamic and rewarding team at this luxury hospitality brand where my passion and strengths in developing high quality standards, growing internal talent and creating exquisite cuisine will lead to both company and personal success.”

Mottl will oversee fine dining in the Imperial restaurant, with a renewed menu showcasing authentic Russian dishes created with locally sourced seasonal products, the coffee and tea house Café Vienna - known across St Petersburg as the oldest and most popular Viennese style café - and the launch of new menu concepts in the Lobby and Nevsky Bars.

He will also be using his passion and knowledge to develop innovative and exciting new banqueting offers for the conference and events trade.