New line up for Four Seasons
Leading luxury hospitality company Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts has announced three new appointments and promotions to its operational leadership team.
Christian Clerc has been appointed President of Hotel Operations – Americas, Simon Casson has been promoted to President of Hotel Operations – Europe, Middle East and Africa, and finally Rainer Stampfer has been promoted to President of Hotel Operations – Asia Pacific.
Each will focus on key initiatives across their respective regions, strengthening the company’s position as a RevPAR leader and ensuring that both existing and new properties are the best representation of Four Seasons in every market where the company operates.
“Christian, Simon and Rainer are exceptional leaders, accomplished hotel operators and committed to the culture and values that define Four Seasons,” comments J. Allen Smith, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. “We are proud to be able to promote from within as we develop the next generation of operations leadership at Four Seasons. Having the right leaders in place ensures that we continue to operate the very best luxury hotels, resorts and private residences in the world.”
Christian Clerc succeeds Chris Hart, who is leaving Four Seasons after a 32-year career with the company. Clerc previously spent two years based in Dubai as President of Hotel Operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa, during which time Four Seasons debuted several new properties, including key openings in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In his new role Clerc will oversee operations of the company’s largest region, which will see new properties opening in Downtown New York, Anguilla and Surfside, Florida. Other upcoming developments include resorts in Los Cabos and Napa Valley and a property in São Paulo, which will mark the company’s highly anticipated entry into Brazil.
Following Clerc’s transition to the Americas, Simon Casson has been promoted into his previous role. Casson is currently Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, and has also chaired the company’s Global Spa Task Force, overseeing Four Seasons spa efforts worldwide. In his new role Casson will lead hotel operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, supporting the company’s focus on product and service differentiation as it continues to extend its presence across the region with new properties opening soon in London (Ten Trinity Square) and Kuwait City, as well as a recently announced resort in Hvar and a second luxury property in the Seychelles.
Rainer Stampfer, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Pudong, Shanghai, has been promoted to President, Hotel Operations – Asia Pacific. Stampfer succeeds William Mackay who will be leaving Four Seasons after 34 years of service. In his new position, based in Singapore, Stampfer will oversee operations continuing to focus on China’s strategic importance as both an inbound and outbound travel market. The company will soon be opening a new hotel in Tianjin, and a luxury resort property in Sanya at Haitang Bay. Other upcoming openings in the region include a new hotel in Bangkok on the Chao Phraya river, the company’s first urban property in Malaysia, a private island in the Maldives and two new properties in Japan.
Clerc, Casson and Stampfer will transition to their new roles over the coming weeks and will report to Christopher W. Norton, President, Global Product and Chief Operating Officer.
“Our people create the experiences that define and differentiate our company and they are essential to creating a guest experience that is uniquely Four Seasons,” says Norton. “Christian, Simon and Rainer share a deep understanding of the needs of our luxury guests. They are passionate about perfecting the guest experience in our hotels and leading and inspiring their teams to do the same, a quality that is instrumental to our success today and in the future.”
