NEW GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Laurent Kleitman has been appointed group chief executive of Mandarin Oriental International Limited, effective September 1st, 2023. Kleitman will take over for James Riley, the group chief executive of Mandarin Oriental since 2016.
Kleitman was most recently the president and chief executive of Parfums Christian Dior, the largest luxury fashion beauty business of LVMH. He was responsible for managing the luxury brand’s perfume, makeup and skincare categories globally. Kleitman formerly served as President of Coty’s Consumer Beauty division, an NYSE-listed leading beauty firm with a portfolio of well-known brands in fragrance, color cosmetics and skin and body care. Before that, he spent 25 years at Unilever in global and regional leadership roles in the personal care, home care and food businesses across the UK, Europe and Asia.
Ben Keswick, chairman of Mandarin Oriental International Limited, said, “With Laurent’s leadership, we will continue to grow our global portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts and residences. Building on Mandarin Oriental’s renowned legendary service, he will further evolve our brand for our guests – delivering 21st-century luxury hospitality and lifestyle experiences steeped in a rich and proud Asian heritage. I am delighted to welcome Laurent to Mandarin Oriental.”
HYATT’S LATEST HIRES
Hervé Mazella has been appointed managing director of Andaz Bali and Hyatt Regency Bali. In his new role, he will oversee the operations of 512 rooms, seven restaurants and nine meeting rooms across the two resorts.
Born in southeastern France into a hospitality family, Mazella completed his studies in Hospitality Management at École Hôtelière et de Tourisme Paul Augier in Nice and enjoyed an affluent career path in the front desk, F&B, event sales, event and hotel operations and management roles in France, UK and Egypt, in various Relais & Chateaux fine properties and Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts before joining Hyatt in 2012.
Park Hyatt Aviara has appointed Bryan Hart as director of sales and marketing. With nearly two decades of experience, Hart oversees sales and marketing strategy to drive overall revenue growth for the resort as it completes the final phase of its $60+ million property-wide transformation with the introduction of Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara. Before joining Hyatt in this role, Hart worked with Omni Hotels & Resorts for eight years, most recently as director of sales and marketing at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia in Scottsdale, Ariz., and previously as director of sales and marketing at Omni San Diego Hotel.
MORE MOVES
Marriott Marquis Houston has named Juan Calderon as the new hotel manager. In this role, he will be the strategic business leader of property operations at the 1,000-room urban resort.
Calderon has been with Marriott International for 20 years, most recently as general manager of the Marriott Dallas Downtown. He led the hotel to a strong COVID recovery and carried top-line revenues, profitability and guest service measures.
Graduate Hotels announced the appointment of Michaella Solar-March as chief marketing officer. Based in the brand’s Nashville headquarters, Solar-March will drive global marketing strategy for Graduate Hotels’ more than 33 hotels across the U.S. and U.K. Solar-March brings nearly two decades of experience leading integrated marketing efforts for companies in the lifestyle, hospitality and real estate industries, including Rockefeller Center, Tishman Speyer, Soho House & Co. and Sonos.
Bill Jordan has been appointed director of sales and marketing for The Kimpton Pittman Hotel Dallas. Jordan is now in charge of all strategic sales and marketing initiatives for the historic property, bringing nearly four decades of leadership, sales acumen, market analysis and strategic planning experience to the hotel. Jordan was previously employed by Omni Hotels and Resorts, most recently in Houston, where he served as director of operations, complex director of sales and marketing and director of sales and marketing at Omni Houston Hotel at Westside.