Christopher Cowdray, CEO of Dorchester Collection, will become company president starting July 1, 2023—15 years after establishing the global luxury hotel management company. Working closely with the board of directors of Dorchester Collection, his new role will ensure that the vision, culture, financial performance and strategic growth of Dorchester Collection are maintained, while spearheading all development and renovation projects.
At the same time, the company’s chief customer experience officer, Helen Smith, and chief culture and operations executive, Eugenio Pirri, have been promoted to the positions of joint-CEOs, from the same date, and having worked together for 12 years.
According to Cowdray, the restruction "ensures continuity" within Dorchester Collection's team while allowing two of the company’s most senior, long-standing executives to step up in their careers.
Cowdray has over 40 years of extensive global experience. He has managed and developed hotels in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Europe, the U.K. and U.S.A. During his time in London, he brought about change and modernization at two of London’s most iconic heritage hotels: Claridge’s and The Dorchester. He was granted the Freedom of the City of London in honor of his contribution to the hotel industry.
Helen Smith has elevated the Dorchester Collection brand since she joined the company in 2005 and has remained the custodian and conceptualizer behind the brand execution. Prior to being chief customer experience officer, she was vice president of sales and marketing for Dorchester Collection for 10 years and director of sales and marketing for The Dorchester for three years. She has worked in key management positions for Sheraton, The Lanesborough, Four Seasons and Skibo Castle.
A 30-year industry veteran and advocate for diversity and inclusion across all aspects of operation, Pirri joined Dorchester Collection in 2011 as vice president of people and organizational development from his previous position as regional HR director of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. He was appointed chief people and culture officer in 2017 and then onto his current chief culture and operational executive role in 2021, where he directs all aspects of hotel operations, culture, guest engagement and ESG. He has held several leadership positions within the hospitality trade.
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