Worldwide: Luxury hotel operator Dorchester Collection has promoted current CEO Christopher Cowdray to president, with Helen Smith and Eugenio Pirri appointed as joint CEOs.
Cowdray has held the position as CEO of the Dorchester Collection since 2007. As of 1 July 2023, he will transition to president and will continue to work closely with the company’s board of directors to oversee the group’s performance and new development and renovation projects.
Smith currently holds the role of chief customer experience officer at Dorchester having joined the company in 2005. Prior to this, she was VP sales and marketing for Dorchester Collection as well as director of sales and marketing for The Dorchester.
Having worked alongside Pirri for the past 12 years, the duo will now be promoted to joint CEOs of Dorchester Collection.
Pirri first joined Dorchester Collection in 2011 as VP people and organisational development. Since then, he was promoted to chief people and culture officer in 2017 and then on to his current role as chief culture and operational executive.
Cowdray said: “This decision ensures continuity of our legendary culture rooted deeply in community, and allows two of Dorchester Collection’s most senior, long-standing executives and leaders in their field to step up. The company will benefit from their distinct and ideal combined skillsets of strategic vision, guest and employee-centric focus, and analytical decision making.”
