Benjamin Vucot has just been appointed CEO of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Group, owner of the ultra-high-end Peninsula chain. The former head of DFS brings with him over thirty years’ experience in the luxury sector, with LVMH and Swiss company Richemont, as well as expertise in the Asian market.
A Frenchman with expertise in luxury and the Asian market takes over at the helm of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Group, owner of the legendary Peninsula Hotels brand.
From March 3, 2025, Benjamin Vuchot, 52, will replace Clement King Man Kwok as Executive Director and CEO of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels.
Clement King Man Kwok, 64, who has headed the group for 22 years, leaves his post at the end of October. He will remain a member of the Board of Directors, as Executive Director and Advisor to the CEO, until the conclusion of the 2025 Annual General Meeting on March 2.
Quest for excellence
Pending the arrival of Benjamin Vuchot, Christobelle Yi Ching Liao, the current Executive Director and Group General Manager and Governance, will act as interim CEO and member of the Company’s Executive Committee and Finance Committee from November 1, 2024 to March 2, 2025.
With the appointment of Benjamin Vuchot, who has a wealth of experience in the luxury goods sector, the hotel group has given itself the means to pursue its quest for excellence.
Founded in 1866 and listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels group now boasts a dozen ultra-premium Peninsula hotels in Asia (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Bangkok and Manila), the Americas (New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills (Los Angeles)) and Europe (Paris, London, Istanbul). In 2019, The Peninsula Hotels became the first and only luxury hotel chain in the world to be awarded five-star status by Forbes Travel Guide for each of its properties.
A 1995 graduate of ESSEC Paris (Bachelor of Business Administration in International Commerce and Marketing), Benjamin Vuchot is a native speaker of Spanish, English and Chinese. In addition to his native language, Benjamin Vuchot speaks Spanish, English and Chinese, and brings with him 30 years’ experience in the luxury goods sector.
Richemont and LVMH on his CV
His career has been divided between two of the biggest players in the luxury goods industry: firstly, the Swiss group Richemont and, secondly, the world’s number one, France’s LVMH.
For the past four years, Benjamin Vuchot has headed up DFS, one of the world’s leading luxury retailers dedicated to travelers, owned by LVMH.
The world leader in luxury goods recently hailed his leadership as “a masterful hand during the very difficult period of the COVID pandemic”. Among his most emblematic projects was the development of the giant Hainan Yalong Bay store, due to open in 2026. Set to become a “major pillar of DFS’s future growth”, the store is located in the tropical seaside paradise of Hainan Island.
Benjamin Vuchot had also overseen the development of the DFS Circle loyalty platform, as well as innovative projects in the fields of distribution and entertainment, all subjects linked to the customer experience that will be useful to him at Peninsula.
Asia specialist
Prior to taking the reins at DFS, Benjamin Vuchot was president of the North Asia region for the Duty Free chain from 2011 to 2017, then head of the Asia subsidiary of Sephora, the leading beauty chain and another LVMH flagship, from 2017 to 2020.
Prior to joining LVMH, Benjamin Vuchot spent nearly 17 years with the Richemont group. After seven years in various positions (sales, marketing and communications) in Asia Pacific with jeweler Cartier, he was president of the Asia-Pacific region for jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels from 2002 to 2011.
The Peninsula Hotels is a historic brand that embodies elegance and refinement,” said Benjamin Vuchot in the press release announcing his appointment. Building on this heritage and long-term vision, I look forward to working alongside an exceptional team to imagine and realize the future of luxury hotels, one that is both sustainable and relevant to our times, while respecting the values that have driven the group’s success and legacy.”
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Read also > DFS brings Ed Brennan back to management
Featured Photo: © Peninsula Hotels
