HBA Los Angeles Names Gianpiero Gaglione Principal as Studio Resets Leadership

HBA Los Angeles, the flagship studio of global hospitality design firm HBA, has appointed Gianpiero Gaglione as Principal, effective immediately. The move brings a designer with more than 20 years of international experience back into a firm he already knows: Gaglione previously held a senior design role at HBA Singapore before departing to build his own practice.

The announcement names a title, a mandate and a résumé. It does not name a predecessor, a portfolio size, or a revenue figure for the studio. Those omissions matter. Principal-level appointments at large design firms often signal a client chase, a leadership gap, or a growth plan. HBA says it is the third option.

What does the appointment actually cover?

According to the studio, Gaglione will guide the creative vision of HBA Los Angeles, oversee design projects, mentor emerging talent, and strengthen client relationships. That is a broad brief. It spans creative direction and business development in a single role.

HBA Los Angeles Partner Kathleen Dauber framed the hire as an investment in leadership depth. "At HBA Los Angeles, we are committed to investing in the next generation of design leadership while building upon the collaborative culture and design excellence that have long defined our studio," Dauber said.

Dauber added a claim worth testing against the studio's future project announcements: "Gianpiero is the right leader to help shape our next chapter. The combination of his creative vision, international experience, and proven leadership makes him exceptionally well-suited to balance creative ambition with the needs of clients and the complexity of hospitality projects."

The proof will arrive in project wins, not in the press release.

Where did Gaglione come from?

Gaglione joins after more than six years running his eponymous design practice. There he led hospitality and high-end residential projects, with recent collaborations for MGM Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Dreamscape Companies. Those three names are the closest the announcement comes to naming prospective HBA client relationships.

His earlier career tracks the upper tier of hospitality interior design. He held senior design roles at Kelly Wearstler, at Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, and at HBA Singapore. The return path — leaving a global firm, building an independent name, then re-entering at principal level — is a common leadership pipeline in design, and HBA is now its beneficiary.

Which properties sit on his track record?

The credited portfolio spans North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Named projects include:

• Santa Monica Proper
• Downtown Los Angeles Proper
• The Beekman, New York
• The Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York
• Soho Beach House, Miami Beach
• Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito, Calif.

That list leans heavily toward California and New York luxury properties, which fits an Los Angeles flagship studio's client base. HBA describes his background as multidisciplinary: concept development, interior architecture, FF&E design, and project management.

What did Gaglione say?

The new principal positioned himself against trend-driven design. "HBA has an extraordinary legacy in hospitality design, and I'm excited to join the Los Angeles studio at such an important time in its evolution," Gaglione said.

He was more specific on method than on market. "I've always believed the most compelling interiors are those that feel authentic, personal, and enduring rather than driven by trends," he said. "I look forward to collaborating with the talented team, bringing new ideas to the design process, and creating environments that are both memorable for guests and meaningful for our clients."

An "important time in its evolution" is the announcement's only hint at internal change at the studio. Neither Dauber nor Gaglione specified what that evolution involves — a restructuring, an expansion, or a response to competitive pressure from rival hospitality design firms goes unstated.

What happens next?

HBA Los Angeles has not disclosed the number of active projects under Gaglione's oversight or the studio's headcount. Watch the first project announcements carrying his name; they will show whether the appointment changes the studio's output or merely its org chart.