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.

🛠 White Lodging, headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, strengthens its executive team by appointing Noah Hoppe as EVP and CFO, and Jared Garner as EVP and CLO. Hoppe transitions from Hyatt Hotels after nearly 20 years, while Garner brings over two decades of legal experience. Current CFO Bruce Hoffmann will move to an emeritus role over the next year. This strategic shift aims to bolster White Lodging’s growth in the urban and lifestyle hospitality sectors.

🏨 Coury Hospitality assumed management of Plunge Beach Resort in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, and Residence Inn Alexandria Old Town South at Carlyle in Alexandria, Virginia. The hotels, owned by T2 Hospitality affiliates, are part of Coury’s strategic national expansion. Plunge Beach Resort has 163 rooms, with 5,900 sq ft event space. Residence Inn offers 181 suites and amenities for both business and leisure guests. Paul Coury and Matt Raine expressed enthusiasm over the partnership.

🏨 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.

🏨 Marriott International, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, announced Leeny Oberg's retirement by March 31, 2026, after 26 years. Jen Mason, 55, will become CFO after joining the company in 1992. Shawn Hill, 54, will assume the Chief Development Officer role by January 1, 2026. Oberg, 65, has been CFO since January 1, 2016, contributing to increased shareholder value. She joined Marriott in 1999, previously working at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Both Mason and Hill report to CEO Anthony Capuano.