Michael Ayling has enjoyed a varied career spanning three continents in the disciplines of finance and general management in the hotel, hospitality and property development sectors. Prior to NuoBello, he was the Managing Director of Laguna Resorts & Hotels, Plc., a listed company in Thailand and subsidiary of Banyan Tree Holdings Limited. His responsibilities included overseeing 8 hotels in two different locations (including two Banyan Trees and a Sheraton Grande), two golf courses, property development, construction, marketing and sales operations, a vacation ownership program, estate management and rental pool operations, a central facilities management operation (including laundry, landscaping, transportation), fostering government relations at both the local and central government levels, developing and implementing numerous CSR initiatives as well as managing the corporate governance, legal and reporting requirements of a listed company in Thailand. He was also an Executive Director for Laguna Vietnam Limited, a Fund developing an integrated resort in Central Vietnam, which is currently under construction. Specifically he was responsible for establishing the Property Sales operation and the design, development and construction of the Nick Faldo Championship golf course. He was significantly involved in the successful Initial Public Offering of Banyan Tree Holdings Limited (“BTHL”) on the Singapore Stock Exchange in 2006 and was also a member of the BTHL Executive Committee.

Prior to joining Laguna Resorts & Hotels, Plc., he enjoyed over 10 years in the professional service industry with the accounting firm, KPMG. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in the Oxford, England office, he transferred to the KPMG Port Moresby office in Papua New Guinea (six years) where he had a wide range of clients covering industries such as oil and gas, banking, airline and agriculture as well as being responsible for managing the Audit and Transaction Services Division. He then transferred to the KPMG Sydney, Australia office (three years) where he managed the Parramatta Audit Division, had numerous audit clients and transaction service assignments such as due diligence reporting and Initial Public Offerings. Michael holds a BA(Hons) Degree in Accounting and Finance, and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.