Hong Kong, 1 February 2012 – Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Edward Shapard as General Manager of Elbow Beach, Bermuda effective January, 2012.

Mr Shapard, who has 14 years of hospitality experience in the Americas and Asia, joins the hotel from Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong where he has been Hotel Manager since 2010.  Mr Shapard began his career with Mandarin Oriental in 2005 as Hotel Manager of the Group’s flagship property in the Americas, Mandarin Oriental, New York.

Prior to joining Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Shapard held positions at the Sheraton New Orleans, the Westin Stamford in Connecticut and the Orchid at Mauna Lani in Hawaii. He graduated cum laude from Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. In addition, he gained an MBA from RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology), Australia through Mandarin Oriental’s MBA Programme.

Commenting on his appointment, Richard Baker, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s Executive Vice President, Operations Director – The Americas said, “We are delighted to welcome Edward to his new role. With his wealth of hospitality experience and knowledge of our brand, I have no doubt that Edward will excel at Elbow Beach.”

As General Manager of Elbow Beach, Bermuda, Mr Shapard succeeds Frank Stocek, who recently moved to Asia to take up his new position as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur.