Accor updates management structure

European hotel giant Accor has reshaped its management structure to head off accusations of nepotism in the boardroom.

The move comes after the recent controversial appointment by co-founder Gérard Pélisson of his nephew as the company's new chief executive.

At a shareholder meeting yesterday the supervisory board and management board were scrapped in favour of a 17-strong board of directors.

The meeting's chairman, Serge Weinberg, said: "These changes correspond to a new stage in the group's history and reflect a desire to strengthen its governance structures."

Five of the appointees are non-French nationals.

The directors include Baudouin Prot, chief executive of international bank BNP-Paribas; Franck Riboud, chief executive of Danone; Theo Waigel, a former German minister of finance; and Sir Roderic Lyne, a former UK ambassador.

Chief executive Gilles Pélisson said: "I'm very pleased that the new board has shown such confidence in me and I look forward to joining the 168,000 other Accor employees as together we lead the group into a new stage in its development."

Under the new structure, Accor's founding co-chairmen Paul Dubrule and Gérard Pélisson will attend board meetings in an advisory capacity.

By Emily Manson

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