Job Title: regional human resources director
Company: Serena Hotels
Mbithe Wambua is the regional human resources director at Serena Hotels, overseeing HR strategy and talent management across the organisation’s properties in Kenya.
Before joining Serena Hotels, Mbithe spent over 14 years at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, rising through multiple leadership roles. Most recently, she was cluster director of human resources (talent & culture) at Fairmont Kenya, reporting to the cluster general manager and chief talent & culture officer, Fairmont Global.
She also served as director of talent & culture, supporting country operations, international recruitment and succession planning at Fairmont the Norfolk and Fairmont Mara Safari Club. Prior to that, she was group director of human resources managing HRIS systems, regulatory compliance, performance management and employee training across Fairmont properties in Kenya.
Earlier in her career at Fairmont, Mbithe held several HR leadership roles including human resources officer, acting human resources manager at Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club and taskforce recruitment manager at Fairmont Dubai.
she also worked as a human resources assistant at Sankara Nairobi, Autograph Collection by Marriott, human resources officer at Career Directions and began his career as direct sales representative at National Bank of Kenya.
In addition, Mbithe has supported global leadership development through Accor Academie as master trainer and served as remote recruitment manager and recruitment specialist for international projects across the AMEAT region.
Work:
2025 – Present: regional human resources director, Serena Hotels
2023 – 2025: cluster director of human resources (talent & culture), Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
2016 – 2023: director of talent & culture, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
2014 – 2016: group director of human resources, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
2011 – 2014: human resources officer, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
2013: taskforce recruitment manager, Fairmont Dubai
2011: acting human resources manager, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club
2010 – 2011: human resources assistant, Sankara Nairobi, Autograph Collection by Marriott
2009: human resources officer, Career Directions Ltd
2008 – 2009: direct sales representative, National Bank of Kenya
Education:
2023 – 2024: MS, management & organisational development, USIU
2013 – 2014: executive MBA, JKUAT
2009: higher national diploma in human resources, College of Human Resource Management
2004 – 2008: BCom, human resources management, The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
About the company: Serena Hotels is a leading luxury hotel chain in East Africa, known for excellence in hospitality, talent development and sustainable tourism practices across its properties.
