TORONTO—Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has made the following appointments and promotions, as it continues to strengthen its operational leadership team: Christian Clerc has been appointed president, hotel operations – Americas; Simon Casson has been promoted to president, hotel operations – Europe, Middle East and Africa; Rainer Stampfer has been promoted to president, 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, according to the company.
“Christian, Simon and Rainer are exceptional leaders, accomplished hotel operators and committed to the culture and values that define Four Seasons,” said J. Allen Smith, president and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “These appointments demonstrate the deep bench strength of leadership experience we have across the organization. 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 will assume the role of president of hotel operations – Americas, succeeding Chris Hart, who is leaving Four Seasons after a 32-year career with the company. Clerc moves into his new role after spending two years based in Dubai as president, hotel operations – Europe, Middle East and Africa. In his new role Clerc will oversee operations for the brand’s largest region, which will soon see new properties opening in New York, Anguilla and Surfside, FL.
Following Clerc’s transition to the Americas, Simon Casson has been promoted to president, hotel operations – Europe, Middle East and Africa. Casson is currently RVP and GM of Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. He will continue to be based in Dubai, transitioning from the resort to Four Seasons corporate office in the Dubai International Financial Centre. Casson joined Four Seasons 27 years ago and has held management positions in London, Washington DC and Doha, where he served as the opening GM at Four Seasons Hotel Doha for nine years. 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.
Rainer Stampfer, RVP and GM 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. Stampfer joined Four Seasons in 2001 and since that time has held progressively senior positions with the company in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. In his new position, based in Singapore, Stampfer will leverage his experience in the region to grow the brand’s presence in Asia Pacific and continue to focus on China’s strategic importance as both an inbound and outbound travel market. The brand will soon be opening a new hotel in Tianjin—the company’s ninth hotel in China—and is planning a luxury resort property in Sanya at Haitang Bay.
Clerc, Casson and Stampfer will transition to their new roles over the next several weeks and will report to Christopher W. Norton, president, global product and COO, who oversees global hotel operations and is responsible for the end-to-end guest experience.
“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,” said 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.”