Luxury veteran Clerc takes over at Auberge

MILL VALLEY, California – Christian Clerc has been named president and CEO of Auberge Resort Collection, effective September 1, 2024, succeeding 10-year leader Craig Reid. Clerc will office out of Auberge’s Bethesda, Maryland, office.

Clerc previously served as global president at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts from 2016 to 2022, where he oversaw 127 hotels, 51 residential properties, more than 50 properties under development and 50,000 employees across 47 countries. Auberge currently has 28 luxury properties, primarily in North America.

“We first discussed a potential succession plan more than two years ago, and I always had Christian as my first choice to lead the next chapter for Auberge,” Reid told Hotel Investment Today after the announcement was made. “He has the character, the pedigree, and above all the heart to be a great impact player. He has also quickly built a very strong connection with Dan Friedkin, our chairman. The cherry on the cake is that Christian has been a lifelong AS Roma fan, and Dan of course is the owner of the team.”

“Christian is a dynamic and admired leader in the hospitality industry. His proven approach to luxury customer experiences synergizes perfectly with our vision for Auberge, as we continue to build our highly sought after brand,” said Dan Friedkin, chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group and chairman of Auberge Resorts Collection. “He has a unique perspective on what a luxury hospitality brand should be and deep expertise in delivering curated experiences at one-of-a-kind properties that exceed the expectations of the world’s most discerning travelers.”

Before assuming responsibility for global operations at Four Seasons, Clerc served as president, EMEA, from 2014 until 2016, overseeing the company’s operations in the region. Previously, he led the Hotel George V in Paris with regional responsibility for Southern Europe and held various GM and regional vice president positions throughout the Americas. After leaving Four Seasons in 2022, Clerc engaged in a variety of projects, including serving on the board of Artemis RE Partners, assuming the position of chairman of the board of duPont Registry Group, a luxury automotive and motorsport ecosystem, and advising on global luxury development projects.

“I am thrilled to join the Auberge team,” Clerc said. “It’s an honor to have a role in furthering Auberge’s well-earned reputation for creating unique and authentic experiences. I look forward to working closely with our talented team and our strategic partners to continue pursuing this vision of building the leading brand in luxury hospitality.”