Joanne Taylor-Stagg to step down as part of Athenaeum restructure

Joanne Taylor-Stagg is to leave her role as general manager of the Athenaeum as management company Sir Richard Sutton Limited (SRSL) restructures its hotel portfolio.

SRSL said that it had begun a consultation process with employees who work in operational support and restructure the business “to create a more agile and leaner organisation across its directly managed hotel portfolio”.

It is believed that some 30 of the Athenaeum team is at risk, including HR, marketing and finance roles as SRSL seeks to create a shared services model for its hotel portfolio.

As part of the restructuring Joanne Taylor-Stagg, will step down from her role as general manager of the Athenaeum after six years at the helm of the hotel. She will remain in place for up to six months to support a handover to her successor.

Under her leadership the hotel was a regular among The Caterer Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality, won a Hotel Catey award for the Best Use of Innovative Technology, was recognised with accolades such as Readers’ Choice and Urban Hotel awards from Condé Nast, and achieved EarthCheck Silver certification.

Taylor-Stagg said: “It has been a wonderful journey with this incredible hotel, and I’m delighted that we have been able to shape key aspects of its future – guest service at the heart of the operation, a positive team culture, a strong sustainability agenda, and consistent commercial growth.”

Addressing Taylor-Stagg’s departure, SRSL said in a statement: "Her leadership will leave a lasting impact, and The Athenaeum will continue to build upon these achievements as it enters its next chapter under the group’s evolving structure."

SRSL also owns the Sheraton Grand Park Lane and the Sutton Hotel Collection, which includes the 108-bedroom Castle Hotel Windsor, 84-bedroom Queens Hotel Cheltenham, and 98-bedroom Francis Hotel Bath.