Effective May 3, Stephen Alden will take up the role of Accor’s Chief Executive Officer Raffles & Orient Express. Alden will become a member of the Accor group executive committee and will report directly to Sébastien Bazin, Accor chief executive.

Bazin said, “We are pleased to welcome Stephen, a highly respected and visionary leader within the international luxury hotel space. “His experience and expertise will strongly contribute to further building momentum of our Raffles brand and to making the highly anticipated launch of the Orient Express hotel brand a tremendous success.”

Alden’s recent accomplishment was the creation and launch of the Dedica Anthology brand in 2017, encompassing a portfolio of nine distinctive properties across Europe. He will continue to build both brands through exceptional programming, dedicated team cultures and accelerated growth.

 “It is a privilege to be taking on the stewardship of these two magnificent brands,” said Alden. “I am greatly looking forward to this next episode, working closely with all functional and operational teams and leveraging Accor’s exceptional talent and resources globally.

“We have a unique opportunity to accelerate Raffles’ forward momentum, as well as to reignite the Orient Express brand, successfully bringing its glamour and timeless qualities to a new generation of hotels starting with our first property in Rome.”

Alden completed his training in Switzerland after which he moved into the luxury hotel business, where he has focused his career ever since. During his time at Starwood he opened the St Regis in New York and ran the St Regis and Luxury Collection brands globally.

For nine years, he was chief executive of Maybourne Hotel Group, whose flagship properties include Claridge’s, the Connaught and the Berkeley. Later in 2016, he was appointed CEO of The SET, owner and operator of London’s Hotel Cafe Royal, The Conservatorium in Amsterdam and the Lutetia in Paris.

Alden has held positions on the boards of Walpole British Luxury (London) and London First as well as Ferragamo’s Lungarno Collection (Florence). In 2002, Alden was bestowed an honorary title as “Console di Roma” for the renovation of the César Ritz Grand hotel, completed in time for the Giubileo 2000 celebrations.