Viya Golf has confirmed a series of senior management appointments and internal promotions across its Dubai golf portfolio, underscoring the group’s commitment to cultivating leadership talent from within and ensuring long-term stability across its clubs.
The moves include notable cross-club transitions and internal advancements, aligning with Viya Golf’s strategic approach to talent development and succession planning within its golf, leisure, and hospitality operations.
Leadership Advancements at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
Franco Botha has been appointed Club Manager at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, following more than two years at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where he served as Director of Golf.
During his tenure, Botha contributed significantly to golf operations, broader club performance, and the delivery of major international events.
His promotion signals Viya Golf’s ongoing emphasis on internal leadership development and operational continuity.
Joining Botha at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club is Ian Brennan, who will assume the role of Director of Golf.
Brennan transitions from Emirates Golf Club, where he spent the past four years as a core member of the golf operations team.
At one of the world’s busiest golf clubs, Brennan played a prominent role in both daily operations and strategic planning.
His appointment highlights Viya Golf’s investment in experienced leadership to support the continued growth and success of Dubai’s golf sector.
New Leadership at Jumeirah Golf Estates
At Jumeirah Golf Estates, Michael Major has been appointed Director of Golf, marking a significant milestone in a career spanning more than a decade with the company.
Major originally joined Viya as a Golf Operations Intern and has progressed through multiple operational and leadership roles, most recently serving as Director of Golf at Dubai Creek.
In his new position, Major will work closely with Club Manager Dan Naudo and oversee golf operations across both the Earth and Fire courses.
His deep institutional knowledge and extensive operational experience will support one of the region’s most internationally recognised golf venues as it continues to strengthen its global profile.
CEO Perspective
Commenting on the appointments, Christopher May, CEO of Viya, said:
“These appointments reflect our long-term approach to leadership development and succession planning.
Franco, Michael and Ian each bring strong operational experience, a deep understanding of our clubs, and a shared commitment to excellence, and I am confident they will continue to play an important role in the ongoing success of our Dubai portfolio.”
Internal leadership development benefits & trends
Organisations that prioritise developing talent from within do so for several strategic and operational reasons.
In the context of Viya Golf, this likely reflects these core principles:
- Promoting internally preserves deep knowledge of organisational culture, processes, and customer expectations. Leaders who already understand Viya’s standards and operational dynamics can drive consistency across clubs and experiences.
- Internal career paths demonstrate that the organisation values growth and investment in its people, which boosts morale, engagement, and long-term retention—especially important in competitive talent markets like golf, hospitality, and sports.
- Experienced internal candidates often require less transition time than external hires because they understand systems, stakeholders, and strategic priorities from day one. This accelerates execution and reduces disruption.
- Structured development creates a reliable leadership pipeline. In Viya Golf’s case, grooming directors and managers from within ensures the group can sustain leadership continuity even as the organisation evolves.
- Internal leaders are often better ambassadors of organisational values because they have been socialised into the culture over time. Their credibility reinforces standards for performance, service excellence, and member experience.
Leadership development continues to evolve, influenced by workforce expectations, technological advances, and organisational priorities.
The trends below are particularly relevant to organisations focused on long-term growth and operational excellence, such as Viya Golf:
- Development programmes are shifting from one-size-fits-all training to individualised learning pathways.
- Organisations increasingly integrate AI and digital tools to deliver microlearning, real-time feedback, simulations, and scenario-based modules.
- Structured mentorship and executive coaching programs support leaders at every level, focusing on emotional intelligence, resilience, and strategic thinking.
- Cross-training leaders across departments (operations, customer experience, finance, etc.) develops broader business acumen and prepares them for complex roles.
- Leading organisations are using leadership effectiveness metrics—such as team engagement scores, retention rates, and performance outcomes—to assess development ROI. This shift makes leadership development more strategic and business-aligned.
- Organisations increasingly prioritise:
- Change leadership
- Communication and influence
- Empathy and cultural intelligence
- Decision-making under ambiguity
How This Relates to Viya Golf
Viya Golf’s emphasis on internal promotion—evident in transitions like Franco Botha, Ian Brennan, and Michael Major—mirrors these modern trends:
- Succession planning (pipeline readiness)
- Institutional leadership continuity
- Recognition of operational expertise
- Investing in existing talent for strategic growth
By aligning talent strategies with these trends, Viya Golf strengthens both performance outcomes and organisational cohesion across its Dubai golf portfolio.