Peter Bennett has joined the senior management team of luxury hotel group Le Méridien as vice president human resources, effective yesterday. Based out of the company’s corporate headquarters in London, Bennett reports directly to Richard Mahoney, president and chief operating officer.

A seasoned human resources professional, Bennett brings more than 20 years of experience to Le Méridien. In his new position, Bennett will be responsible for assessing human resource policies and procedures and for facilitating changes needed to increase the quality and efficiency of human resource functions for the company’s 30,000+ employees.

He will oversee employee training and development, diversity and equity programmes, as well as human resource operations, including employment, employee/labour relations, performance management, compensation and benefits administration.

Most recently, Bennett served as human resources director, travel at Thomas Cook Limited, where he was a member of the UK Travel Board. In this role he was responsible for driving major change initiatives and restructuring of the business, including the acquisition of Carlson’s’ UK leisure travel businesses.

Prior to joining Thomas Cook in 1999, Bennett spent seven years with Boots Company plc; first as head of personnel services and then as director of personnel for Boots Healthcare International, a business that had operations in fifteen countries. Bennett’s early career was spent at BOC Group Plc where he carried out a variety of generalist and specialist human resources roles, culminating in the position of corporate personnel manager for the company’s worldwide headquarters.

“I am very pleased Peter will be joining Le Méridien’s management team,” noted Richard Mahoney, president and chief operating officer. “As the vice president, human resources, he will play a critical role in shaping the company’s culture and environment. Given his tremendous global experience in the service industry and the approach he advocates to human resource management, I am confident Peter will greatly enhance our service delivery capabilities and contribute significantly to the ongoing success of Le Méridien.”

Bennett has a Diploma in Personnel Management from the London School of Economics and is a Fellow of its Institute of Personnel Management.
 

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