EDOUARD ETTEDGUI
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Edouard Ettedgui is Group Chief Executive of the company and is based at the Group’s Hong Kong office. He joined Mandarin Oriental in this capacity in 1998.
The hotel group was, at the time, well recognized for providing award-winning service in its Asian heartland and was beginning to embark upon a global growth strategy. Under his leadership, the Group’s portfolio has increased from 11 to 45 hotels worldwide currently, and is on track to being widely recognized as the best luxury hotel group in the world, operating over 10,000 rooms in key city and resort destinations.
The Group is represented in some of the world’s most desirable and strategic locations and continues to gain momentum. The focus on geographic diversity has complemented the Group’s traditional Asian base, and includes dynamic developments in key business and resort destinations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and the Americas.
Other strategic milestones during Ettedgui’s tenure include the development of Mandarin Oriental’s exclusive spa concepts, the launch of its residential component, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, and the development of the Group’s Hideaway Resort in Sanya, China. The Group is also becoming increasingly renowned for the implementation of exciting and innovative hotel dining concepts, and currently has a total of 11 Michelin starred restaurants in its portfolio.
Mr Ettedgui brings to Mandarin Oriental extensive business development and financial experience. A French national, he obtained his degree from ESSEC in Paris before joining Philips International in the Netherlands. His early career with the company took him to Morocco and France where he became a Director for Philips’ operations in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Peru and Italy. Many of these positions were also combined with representing the French Government as Trade Counsellor.
In 1990, he joined BAT Industries PLC in London as Head of Finance and was promoted to Group Finance Controller in 1993. In 1995, he gained the additional responsibility of Director for New Business Development. In January 1996, he joined the board of the newly-created British American Tobacco Holdings as Business Development Director.
In August 1996, Mr Ettedgui moved to Asia as Group Finance Director of Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited, where he remained until his move to Mandarin Oriental.
He is a Vice Chairman of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), and in 2001 was appointed Advisor of External Trade in Hong Kong by the French Government. In 2012, Mr Ettedgui was named to the rank of Chevalier in the French National Order of the Légion d’honneur for his distinguished career and efforts to enhance and reinforce the close ties between Hong Kong and France.