Human Resources

📄 Stéphane Maquaire takes over as Chairman of Club Med following Henri Giscard d'Estaing's departure after 22 years. Fosun, Club Med's owner, confirmed Maquaire's appointment, indicating a strategic shift. Maquaire's career spans retail and real estate, including leading Carrefour in Brazil until July 2025. His appointment aims to enhance operational control and long-term strategy in the evolving hotel industry. The change comes amid tensions and a focus on adapting to post-pandemic challenges.

💻 Forge Holiday Group, parent to Sykes Holiday Cottages and Forest Holidays, appoints Jule Owen as Chief Product Officer to boost tech capabilities. With 20+ years in tech and finance, including roles at Rothschild, Unruly, and Microsoft, Owen will enhance AI use and drive innovation. Previously, she was Chief Product and Technology Officer at startups like KareHero. CEO Graham Donoghue emphasizes the significant impact expected from Owen’s leadership in the holiday letting sector.

🗺 Newly appointed General Managers at NUMA will oversee operations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and Eastern Europe. Julius Anders leads in the DACH region, Paul Álvarez Gentles in Spain, Antonio Fragateiro in Portugal, and Ladislav Szabo in Eastern Europe. NUMA, managing over €2.5 billion in assets, expanded into 36 cities across 15 countries. In 2024, revenue grew by over 100%, with continued growth anticipated in 2025.

📈 Henri Giscard d'Estaing's tenure as Club Med president ends unexpectedly amid growing tensions with Chinese shareholder Fosun due to governance and strategy disagreements. This includes Fosun's rejection of Giscard d'Estaing's plan for a 2026 Paris stock exchange re-listing. Despite a fourfold increase in operational margin over ten years, the appointment of a new president occurred without his input. Fosun insists on maintaining Club Med's French identity and promises long-term development.

🏨 Emilie Couton, with 24 years at Accor and D-EDGE, has been appointed CEO of Accor Plus, marking a significant moment for the company. Under her leadership, Accor's Asia Pacific network expanded from 250 to 1,200 hotels across 38 brands. Accor Plus, celebrating 30 years, serves over 450,000 members in Asia Pacific. Emilie focuses on personalizing member experiences and strengthening connections with hotel partners. France-based Accor currently has 68 job offers available.

📈 Leeny Oberg will retire from Marriott in March 2026 after significantly boosting shareholder value. Her successors are Jen Mason, who will be CFO, and Shawn Hill, Chief Development Officer, starting in 2026. Mason has 33 years at Marriott, leading finance and strategy, while Hill expanded Marriott's APEC portfolio to over 600 properties with 380 more in development. Marriott plans to continue global growth and expansion, with a strong focus on leadership and innovation.

📑 Joanna Fantozzi, with 7+ years in restaurant journalism, is a Senior Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since August 2021. She holds degrees in English and arts journalism. Her career highlights include roles at Insider and The Daily Meal. Joanna has moderated industry events like MUFSO and Restaurants Rise. She joined Informa in October 2018 and has also contributed to The New York Times, Forbes, and Vice.

🛥 Ben Trodd will oversee Four Seasons Yachts' operations, sales, marketing, and crew management. The first yacht, launching next year, will include 95 residential suites, 11 restaurants, and wellness experiences. Trodd collaborates with Fincantieri and Tillberg Design of Sweden. Alejandro Reynal and Nadim Ashi highlight his leadership as pivotal. This marks Four Seasons' expansion into the luxury yachting market, enhancing their experiential luxury ecosystem.

🏨 Ryan Bukstein's career at Ace Hotel started in 1999, when the first Ace Hotel opened in Seattle. Ace, founded by Alex Calderwood, became a cultural icon by blending hospitality with community engagement. By 2000, Ryan, originally from Wisconsin, joined Ace after moving to Seattle for college and studying abroad in Japan. He took on various roles, including PR and marketing, eventually becoming VP of brand. Ace Hotel expanded to Portland and other cities, maintaining its unique cultural integration.

🏨 Jens Gmiat rejoins Ruby Group to support its global expansion and manage operations, commercial strategy, and culture. With over 30 years in hospitality, including leadership at HotelCo51 and Criterion Hospitality, he now assumes oversight during Daniella Boeken's maternity leave. Ruby Group, guided by CEO Michael Struck, is strengthening its leadership with Fabian Zellinger and Martin Zilkens joining as managing directors, aligning with their Lean Luxury philosophy and international growth objectives.