AccorHotels has announced a new management team for the UK & Ireland, featuring strategic hires from outside the business and several internal appointments.

Philip Lassman has joined AccorHotels UK & Ireland as vice president of development.

Lassman joins after ten years at IHG where for the past five years he was development director for UK & Ireland.

His role will be to lead the growth of all AccorHotels brands in the UK & Ireland.

François Schoemans has been appointed as vice president of procurement, AccorHotels UK, Ireland and Benelux.

Schoemans joins AccorHotels from Delhaize and will be responsible for the procurement business in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

He has extensive experience in large food and retail businesses as well as consulting, and brings strong procurement and business development experience to the business.

Thomas Dubaere, chief operating officer, AccorHotels UK & Ireland said: “It is an exciting time at AccorHotels and our renewed focus on providing outstanding hotel services and experiences for our owners, partners and guests is galvanised even further by adding new talent like Philip and François to the team.

“They both have first-class records and will bring considerable expertise to the team.

“I am also very proud to make several promotions to the management team from within the AccorHotels family and retain some of the industry’s best talent.

“It speaks volumes that our employees want to grow their careers with us and that those from other businesses want to be a part of a dynamic hotel business in a market full of opportunity.

“With this management team, we are in an excellent position to execute on our goals and ambitions.”

AccorHotels operates in 95 countries, with accommodation in over 4,100 hotels, resorts and residences and over 3,000 of the finest private homes around the globe available.