Biographies of Executive Committee Members
Gilles C. Pélisson
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Born in May 1957, married with two children, Gilles Pélisson is graduated from ESSEC Business School and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
He started his career in the Accor Group in 1983. After six years in the United States, as Marketing Director of Seafood Broiler restaurants, then as Senior Vice President of Accor for the Asia-Pacific region, he was appointed, in 1988, Chief Executive of Courtepaille restaurants, then Co-Chairman of the Novotel hotel chain in 1993.
In 1995, he was appointed CEO of Euro Disney, then Chairman and CEO in 1997.
In 2000, Gilles Pélisson joined the SUEZ group to head the Suez-Telefonica ST3G consortium, bidding for an UMTS licence, and took over as Chairman of Noos, the cable network operator leader in France.
In September 2001, Gilles Pélisson joined Bouygues Telecom as Chief Executive Officer and was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in February 2004.
In January 2006 he became the Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Accor.
Since Febuary 24th 2009, he is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor.
Yann Caillère
Chief Operating Officer, Accor Hospitality Europe, the Middle East and Africa,
Chief Executive Officer Sofitel Worldwide,
In charge of Hotel Design and Construction Worldwide
A graduate of the Thonon-les-Bains École Hôtelière, 55 years old, Yann Caillère began his career in the international arena, before joining Pullman (Frantel, then Société Française des Wagons Lits). In 1995, he joined Disneyland Resort Paris, as Executive Vice President, Luxury Hotels and Conventions, moving on to become Chief Operating Officer, then Chief Executive Officer. In October 2004, he joined the Louvre Hôtels Group as Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Caillère joined Accor in January 2006 as Chief Operating Officer, Hotels France, Southern Europe, Africa and Middle East and CEO for Sofitel Worlwide. He was also named to the Executive Committee. On September 1, 2008, Yann Caillère was appointed the Executive Committee member responsible also for Hotels Latin America.
As of May 11, 2009, he is responsible for Accor Hospitality Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Sofitel Worldwide, and in charge of Hotel Design and Construction Worldwide.
Jean-Luc Chrétien
Executive Vice President, Accor Hospitality Marketing and Distribution
A graduate of the ESSEC business school, 51 years old, Jean-Luc Chrétien joined Accor in 1986 as head of marketing and sales for the Hotels division, then for Accor Pacific and, in 1990, for the Leisure division. He was appointed Marketing Director for the Euro Disney hotels in 1992 and named head of distribution strategy in 1996. He was appointed Vice President Distribution and Strategy and Sales Administration at Euro Disney in 1999. In 2001, Mr. Chrétien was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Pierre et Vacanes/Maeva Tourisme, then joined the Sales and Marketing Department of SNCF Voyages France Europe in 2004 as Vice President, International Sales.
In November 2007, he was appointed Executive Vice President, Hotel Distribution at Accor. On September 1, 2008, Jean-Luc Chrétien is the Executive Committee member responsible for Hotel Distribution.
As of May 11, 2009, he is responsible for Accor Hospitality Marketing and Distribution.
Michael Flaxman
Chief Operating Officer, Accor Hospitality Americas
A graduate of Westminster Hotel School in London, 54 years old, Michael Flaxman began his career at Forte Hotels in the United States. After working in various operational positions for Thistle Hotels and Trusthouse Forte Hotels, he joined Accor in 1983 as Vice President, Development for North America. In 1988, he became Chief Operating Officer, Hotels North America. In 1992, he was sent to Paris as Development Director for Novotel, as well as Regional Operations Director for several European, Asian and African countries. In 1994, he was named Managing Director, Novotel UK, and in 1997, he became head of Accor Business & Leisure Hotels UK and Ireland. In 1999, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer, Hotels Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.
Since 2006, Michael Flaxman, member of the Executive Committee, is Chief Operating Officer Northern Europe, Accor Hospitality.
In early 2009, Michael Flaxman was also appointed Chief Operating Officer for Novotel in North America.
Michael Flaxman is Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur.
As of May 11, 2009, he is responsible for Accor Hospitality Americas.
Michael Issenberg
Chief Operating Officer Accor Asia Pacific
A graduate of Cornell University in upstate New York, born in 1959, Michael Issenberg was CEO of Mirvac Pty Limited's hotels division and a member of the Executive Committee. He joined Accor Asia Pacific in 1994 as a Regional General Manager before being promoted CEO of Accor's hotels and tourism operations in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific in 1995. He was then appointed Managing Director for the entire Asia Pacific region in 2003.
In 2008, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Accor Asia Pacific, Accor Hospitality.
Since the beginning of the year, Mr. Issenberg has been the Executive Committee member responsible for the Asia Pacific region.
Patrick Ollivier
Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources
Patrick Ollivier, 55, joined Accor in 1982 after graduating from Institut de Gestion Sociale. He held various Human Resources positions, first at Compagnie des Wagons-Lits and later at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, before moving on to Accor headquarters in 1994 as Vice President in charge of compensation, employee benefits and expatriation. He then joined Accor North America in 2001, serving as Vice President, Human Resources and Quality until 2009.
Since September 1st 2009, Patrick Ollivier is the Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources and member of the Accor Executive Committee.
Pascal Quint
Corporate Secretary and Secretary of the Board of Directors
Holder of a Private Law degree from the University of Lille II and a Master of Laws degree in European Law from the UK’s University of Exeter, born in 1957, Pascal Quint began his career in 1983 as Legal Advisor at Clifford Turner in Paris. He went on to work as Corporate Legal Advisor for Lipha and subsequently for IBM France. He was appointed European Counsel at Corning Glass in 1988, moving on to become Manager, Legal Affairs for Euro Disney in 1991, where he was promoted to the position of Director, Legal Affairs in 1992. After serving as Director, Legal Affairs of Sanofi’s Pharmacy division from 1994 to 1996, he returned to Euro Disney to work as Vice President and General Counsel until 2004, when he was hired by Cegelec as Corporate Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
On September 1, 2008, Pascal Quint was appointed Corporate Secretary and Secretary of the Board of Directors. He has been a member of the Executive Committee since joining the Group in September 2008.
Jacques Stern
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Accor in charge of Accor Services and Finance
A graduate of the École Supérieure de Commerce de Lille and a certified public accountant, 44 years old, Jacques Stern began his career with Price Waterhouse as an external auditor. He joined Accor in 1992 as Consolidation Officer and became Group Financial Planning Officer in 1996. He was then successively appointed Group Controller (2000), Executive Deputy Chief Financial Officer (2002) and Chief Financial Officer (2003). In March 2005, he became Member of the Management Board, in charge of Finance.
In 2006, Jacques Stern was appointed Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President in charge of Purchasing and Information Systems and Member of the Executive Committee.
As from September 1, 2008, in addition to his responsibility for Finance and Information Systems, he is also in charge of Strategy and Hotel Development. On March 12, 2009, he was appointed Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in charge of Finance, Strategy, Hotel Business Development and IT. As of May 11, 2009, he is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in charge of Finance, Strategy, Hotel Development, Information Systems and Purchasing.
On December 15, 2009, he is appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Accor Services and Finance.
The composition of the Executive Committee reflects the Group's operational organization.