Accor announces the appointment of Brune Poirson to the role of Chief Sustainability Officer. Brune Poirson will report directly to Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO, and will become a member of the Executive Committee. Her role will be to define, drive and monitor the commitments, the strategy and the roll-out of the Group’s action plans in terms of sustainable development. She will also be responsible for the Accor Solidarity Foundation and the ALL Heartists Fund. This appointment is effective since May 5th, 2021.
Sébastien Bazin, Accor Chairman and CEO declared: “For more than 25 years, Accor has been at the forefront of efforts to address the environmental and human challenges related to the development of travel and tourism. With Brune Poirson’s appointment, I want us to scale up our commitments in terms of environmental protection, give fresh impetus to our efforts to support our local communities and uphold, wherever we operate, our strong beliefs and our actions. Taking positive action to support the environment and the men and women who drive our industry on a daily basis is a must. In this area too, I want us to set an example by being both daring and trailblazing.”
Brune Poirson, Accor Chief Sustainability Officer said: “I am delighted to be joining a global leader in hospitality and to be able to contribute my experience and beliefs, and to take action. Through more than 5,100 hotels worldwide, hundreds of owners and partners, several hundred million guests and the experienced teams in the field, we have a wonderful opportunity to take practical and decisive action on a daily basis. In this new role, I want to help to further the vision that Accor has had since its creation – bringing to life positive, contemporary and responsible hospitality.”
Having always been committed to sustainable development, Brune Poirson has dual experience working in the private and public sector. Within the French government, she championed the anti-waste law, which among other things addressed plastic pollution, and has been a member of major organizations both in France and internationally. Until recently, Brune was a member of the French Parliament, and for three years was Secretary of State for the Environmental Transition. She was the first French person to be elected Vice President of the United Nations Environment Assembly.
Brune Poirson began her career in London, within NESTA, the UK-based Innovation Foundation, subsequently moving to the French Development Agency, and the Veolia group in India, before working in a green start-up incubator in Boston. Brune Poirson, who is 38, is a graduate of the London School of Economics, Sciences Po Aix and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Accor announces the appointment of Stephen Alden to the role of Chief Executive Officer Raffles & Orient Express, effective May 3rd. Stephen Alden will report directly to Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO, and will become a member of the Group Executive Committee.
Mr Alden, who most recently created and launched the Dedica Anthology brand in 2017, encompassing a portfolio of nine distinctive properties across Europe, will now be heading Raffles & Orient Express brands. He will further build both brands through exceptional programming, dedicated team cultures and accelerated growth.
Sébastien Bazin, Accor Chairman & CEO declared: “We are pleased to welcome Stephen, a highly respected and visionary leader within the international luxury hotel space. His experience and expertise will strongly contribute to further building momentum of our Raffles brand and to making the highly anticipated launch of the Orient Express hotel brand a tremendous success.”
Stephen Alden, CEO Raffles & Orient Express said: “It is a privilege to be taking on the stewardship of these two magnificent brands. I am greatly looking forward to this next episode, working closely with all functional & operational teams and leveraging Accor’s exceptional talent and resources globally. We have a unique opportunity to accelerate Raffles’ forward momentum, as well as to reignite the Orient Express brand, successfully bringing its glamour and timeless qualities to a new generation of hotels starting with our first property in Rome.”
Stephen trained in Switzerland and moved into the luxury hotel business, where he has focused his career ever since. With Starwood he opened the St Regis in New York and led the St Regis and Luxury Collection brands globally. He was CEO for nine years of Maybourne Hotel Group, whose flagship properties include Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley. In 2016 he was appointed CEO of The SET, owner and operator of London’s Hotel Cafe Royal, The Conservatorium in Amsterdam and the Lutetia in Paris.
Stephen has served on the boards of Walpole British Luxury (London) and London First as well as Ferragamo’s Lungarno Collection (Florence). He was awarded an honorary title in 2002 as “Console di Roma” for the renovation of the César Ritz Grand hotel, completed in time for the Giubileo 2000 celebrations.
