Corporate Office

281 Gloucester Road
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Telephone: +852 2895 9288
Facsimile: +852 2837 3500

Corporate Office MOM(USA)Inc

345 California Street, Suite 1250
San Francisco CA 94104, USA
Telephone: +1 415 772 8800
Facsimile: +1 (415) 782 3778

Edouard Ettedgui, Group Chief Executive

Edouard Ettedgui joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group as Chief Executive in 1998. The hotel group was, at the time, well recognised 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 41 hotels worldwide currently, and is on track to being widely recognised 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 and the Americas.

During the past ten years, other strategic milestones include the development of Mandarin Oriental exclusive spa concepts and the launch of its residential component.  The Residences at Mandarin Oriental.  Ettedgui has also been instrumental in encouraging expertise in restaurant design and award winning cuisine as well as in the introduction of state-of-the art technology to the Group

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 and he soon 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 member of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Executive Committee and has also been appointed Advisor of External Trade in Hong Kong by the French Government.

John Witt, Chief Financial Officer 
 
John Witt, Chief Financial Officer, joined Mandarin Oriental in August 1998. He is responsible for establishing major corporate financial strategies, objectives and policies for the company. 

Prior to joining Mandarin Oriental, Mr Witt had extensive global financial experience in a variety of consumer industries, previously holding senior management positions in the United Kingdom, France, and Indonesia.  He has been with the Jardine Matheson Group since 1993.

Mr Witt, a Canadian national, obtained an MBA from INSEAD in France (European Institute of Business Administration), and graduated with distinction.  He is also a qualified chartered accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce from Trinity College, University of Toronto, Canada, with a Major in International Relations.

Michael Hobson, Chief Marketing Officer

Michael Hobson, Chief Marketing Officer, has more than 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, joining Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in May 1994. He has lived in Hong Kong since 1985.

Mr Hobson joined the Group from Omni Hotels Asia-Pacific where he held the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing Worldwide. Prior to that he worked with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts as Group Director of Sales and Marketing. His hospitality career began with Grand Metropolitan in 1978, and in his nine years with the company, he concentrated on sales and development and was stationed in the United Kingdom, Latin America, USA, Singapore and Hong Kong.

A British national, Mr Hobson holds an MBA from the University of Leicester having previously studied Hotel and Catering Operations at Brighton Technical College in the United Kingdom.

Andrew Hirst, Operations Director, Asia

Andrew Hirst, Operations Director is responsible for the Group’s current and future portfolio in Asia, and for driving the Group’s award-winning customer service initiatives as well as other global operational functions such as Spa and Food & Beverage.  

Mr Hirst has over 26 years experience in hotel management of international luxury brand properties, and is well-known within the lodging industry through his roles in associations and societies.

Mr Hirst joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in 1988 and has held senior management positions in many Mandarin Oriental hotels throughout the Asia Pacific region. He has spent the past six years as General Manager of The Excelsior, Hong Kong, one of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s most significant assets.

Mr Hirst was educated in London and is a Licentiate member of the Hotel Catering Institute Management Association.

Christoph Mares, Operations Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa

Christoph Mares, Operations Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa, manages the Group’s current and future portfolio across the region. He is also responsible for overseeing Mandarin Oriental’s global food and beverage operations.

Mr Mares re-joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group from the position of Chief Operating Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group LLC, based in Dubai. Prior to leaving Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in 2008, Mr. Mares had been General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London and was instrumental in positioning the property as one of London’s top-performing luxury hotels. Mr. Mares joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in 2000, and held senior management positions within the Group’s portfolio of hotels in London, Paris and Munich. Mr Mares has over 20 years experience in luxury hotel management across the globe.

Richard Baker, Executive Vice President, US Northern Region

Richard Baker, Executive Vice President, US Northern Region joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in May 2006 as General Manager, Corporate and has been responsible for providing operational input to the Group’s hotels under development in The Americas. He is now responsible for the Group’s hotels in the North East, the West Coast and the Mid West of the United States. Prior to joining Mandarin Oriental, Richard held senior management positions with Rosewood Hotels and Resorts and Four Seasons.

Jorge Gonzalez, Executive Vice President, US Southern Region

Jorge Gonzalez, Executive Vice President, US Southern Region joined the Group in 1999 as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Miami. He took up his Executive Vice President role of the US Southern Region in May 2008, and is now also responsible for overseeing the hotels on the South East Coast of the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. Jorge previously held senior management roles at Loews Hotels, Ritz Carlton and Hyatt. 

Terry L Stinson, Development Director and President, The Americas

Terry L Stinson joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group as Group Development Director in 1997. In May 2008 he assumed the title of Development Director and President, The Americas, providing strategic advice to the region’s leadership team. He is primarily responsible for overseeing the Group’s global Development and Technical Services departments and works closely with the Group’s external partners on the continued development and execution of new Mandarin Oriental projects around the world. Mr Stinson is the Group’s most senior representative in The Americas.

He has a wealth of experience in the hotel industry, including ten years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company where, as Executive Vice President, he spent four years overseeing all of their development activities. Prior to this he was General Counsel of the company, responsible for all legal affairs, including the negotiation of new joint ventures and management agreements. 

Mr Stinson holds an Engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from the University of Tennessee.  He is an American citizen.