Hotel executive moves: Bob W, Club Med, IHG ANA, Sage

Here is a compilation of the most important executive moves of the past week in the hotel investment world alphabetically (by company):

Bob W has new CFO. Helsinki, Finland based-Bob W has named Hervé Deligny as CFO. With over 25 years of experience in financial leadership and scaling global businesses, Delingy started his career with PwC and spent more than 15 years at AccorHotels. He has held CFO positions at Generator, Safestay, and Onefinestay.

New VPs at Club Med. Paris-based Club Med has named Armelle De la Porte des Vaux as vice president of marketing in North America and Ron Gulaskey as vice president of U.S. Sales & Strategy. Des Vaux has over a decade of experience in the luxury industry, including senior roles at L’Oréal and Dior. She joined Club Med in 2019 as marketing director for Benelux. Gulaskey joins Club Med with more than 20 years of executive experience in the travel industry, most recently serving as associate vice president of global sales at Celebrity Cruises. His diverse background includes leadership in both the leisure and MICE segments. His career in travel sales and marketing includes a senior role at Royal Caribbean Group.

IHG ANA names new COO for Japan. Tokyo-based IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan has appointed Kiyohito Iinuma as its new COO for Japan. In addition to his current position as director of operations for Japan, Iinuma will now also serve as the ANA appointee to the joint venture and as a director of IHG ANA Hotels Holdings Co., Ltd. Iinuma brings more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the role of COO, having started his career with ANA Hotels. His journey began at ANA Hotel Tokyo (now ANA InterContinental Tokyo), after which he transitioned to a revenue management position at the company’s Tokyo support center before moving back into hotel operations in general manager roles at IHG hotels across Japan.

New CCO at Sage. Denver-based Sage Hospitality Group has promoted Jessica Werner to chief creative officer. Werner’s journey at Sage spans a decade, beginning in 2014 as the director of feasibility, new business, and transitions for Sage Restaurant Concepts. She then launched Sage Studio, overseeing creative strategy, including brand development, renovations, repositioning of hotels and restaurants and ground-up developments.

New CEO for Hong Kong firm. Hong Kong-based The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Ltd. announced that Benjamin Vuchot will succeed Clement King Man Kwok as executive director and CEO on March 3, 2025. Vuchot will also be appointed as a member of the executive committee, finance committee, and the group management board, as well as a director on the board. Kwok will be stepping down as managing director and CEO on October 31 and will remain on the board as an executive director and advisor to the CEO until the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of 2025. Christobelle Yi Ching Liao, executive director and chief corporate and governance officer, will be appointed as the interim CEO and a member of the executive committee from November 1 to March 2, 2025. Vuchot has over 30 years of experience in the luxury retail business with two leading global groups, Richemont and LVMH.  He was most recently chairman and CEO of DFS Group Ltd.

Waterford names chief growth officer. Waterford, Connecticut-based Waterford Hotel Group has promoted Duane Schroder to the newly created position of chief growth officer.  Schroder joined Waterford Hotel Group in 2002 and has since spent 20 years with the company and served in several leadership roles across several properties, most recently as vice president of operations for the last six years.