Our team
We assemble the team based on your needs
“Hospitality is a people business – but it is also a complex operation where structure, leadership and execution must work in harmony. My focus is on helping owners and management teams build organizations that perform in the here and now, while remaining equipped for the future. When we match the right people with the right strategy and culture, we don’t just create results – we create resilient and competitive companies.”
Thomas Westergaard is a partner at SAM International and the Industry Lead for Hospitality. With more than 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles across the hotel, cruise and restaurant sectors, he is one of the Nordic region’s most experienced profiles within hospitality.
Thomas has held central leadership positions in international hotel chains and complex operational organizations, where he has worked with growth, turnarounds, organizational development and commercial performance. This extensive experience provides him with a solid foundation for advising owners, boards and executive management on people, structure and strategy.
As a trusted advisor to the industry, Thomas works closely with management teams on operations, property development and business development. This gives him a strong, hands-on understanding of the industry’s challenges – and of what is truly required to deliver results.
At SAM, Thomas works across borders and offices to develop and strengthen our presence in the hospitality market. With a robust network in Denmark, Norway and Sweden – and with more relationships internationally – he serves as a key collaborative partner and ‘wingmanager’ for clients looking to professionalize their organization and strengthen their competitive edge.
Thomas’s approach is characterized by high professional standards, business acumen, and a sharp eye for the connection between leadership, culture and performance. For him, recruitment and advisory are never isolated disciplines – they are integrated components of a company’s overall strategy.
Thomas has a solid Nordic foundation, based between Oslo and Kokkedal, working in close international collaboration with colleagues across various country offices. Consequently, Thomas is always close to both clients and colleagues, actively contributing to translating SAM’s ‘Value Through People’ approach into tangible value for the hospitality industry.
Who are we
For us, our motto “Value through people” means the importance of people in creating value for our business. This is a core value in our work, as we know that the foundation of our success lies in each member of our team.
We are business professionals from different management positions and industries with long experience in finding the right employee for each position. From this, we formed our common “SAM” community, where at least two of the most suitable consultants participate in each application process.
The values that guide us
We stand behind equal working life – and we do not accept discrimination of any kind.
For us, all human beings are equal – of course. When we look for the most suitable candidate for each assignment, we highlight not only competence but also suitability for the organizational culture and companys future goals. We present people as personalities and experts who can influence the future success of the company.