Christian Clerc, an accomplished hospitality industry leader with more than three decades of operations and management experience at some of the most esteemed global luxury hotel brands, has been named President and CEO of Auberge Resorts Collection. Clerc succeeds former President and CEO Craig Reid, who is retiring after 10 years at the helm of the company. Clerc’s appointment is effective September 1, 2024, and he will be based out of Auberge’s Bethesda, MD, office.
Clerc previously served as Global President at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, a position he held between 2016 and 2022. In this role, he was responsible for leading all aspects of the company’s hotel and residential business globally, overseeing 127 hotels, 51 residential properties, more than 50 properties under development, and 50,000 employees across 47 countries. During his tenure, he prioritised company culture, product excellence, and global expansion, and introduced new lines of business as part of the company’s strategic agenda.
“Christian is a dynamic and admired leader in the hospitality industry. His proven approach to luxury customer experiences synergises perfectly with our vision for Auberge, as we continue to build our highly sought after brand,” said Dan Friedkin, Chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group and Chairman of Auberge Resorts Collection. “He has a unique perspective on what a luxury hospitality brand should be and deep expertise in delivering curated experiences at one-of-a-kind properties that exceed the expectations of the world’s most discerning travellers.”
Before assuming responsibility for global operations at Four Seasons, Clerc served as President, EMEA, from 2014 until 2016, overseeing the company’s operations in the region. Previously, he led the iconic Hotel George V in Paris with regional responsibility for Southern Europe and held various GM and Regional VP positions throughout the Americas prior to that. After leaving Four Seasons in 2022, Clerc engaged in a variety of projects, including serving on the board of Artemis RE Partners, assuming the position of Chairman of the Board of duPont Registry Group, a luxury automotive and motorsport ecosystem, and advising on global luxury development projects.
“I am thrilled to join the Auberge team,” said Clerc. “It’s an honour to have a role in furthering Auberge’s well-earned reputation for creating unique and authentic experiences. I look forward to working closely with our talented team and our strategic partners to continue pursuing this vision of building the leading brand in luxury hospitality.”