HONG KONG, CHINA. The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited has appointed outgoing DFS Chairman & CEO Benjamin Vuchot to succeed Clement King Man Kwok as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 3 March 2025.
As revealed by The Moodie Davitt Report, Vuchot is stepping down from his DFS leadership role at the end of this month.
He is being replaced by the highly experienced Ed Brennan, who had led DFS for a second (three-year) spell until January 2021, having also served as Chairman and CEO of DFS for 13 years from 1999 to 2012.
Vuchot, who had previously been President of Sephora Asia, assumed the DFS leadership role in January 2021.
The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited said the highly regarded Vuchot will be appointed as a member of the Executive Committee, Finance Committee and the Group Management Board. He will also become a Director of some of the group’s entities following his executive appointment.
Kwok will be stepping down as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer on 31 October.
The hotel group said Vuchot has over 30 years’ experience in the luxury retail business with two global leading groups, Richemont and LVMH.
“He brings extensive experience in driving business growth and expansion through innovative strategies and initiatives,” the company said.
Vuchot said: “I’m honoured and excited to be joining The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited. It is a privilege to be working for a company that has built a reputation for excellence in luxury hospitality and exceptional services for over 150 years.
“Building on this legacy and long-term vision, I look forward to working alongside the exceptional team to imagine and deliver the future of luxury hospitality that is both sustainable and responsive to our times, whilst upholding the values that have steered the group’s success and legacy.”
Vuchot began his career at Cartier in sales and marketing in Hong Kong and Singapore, later becoming Far East Communications Director. In 2002, he worked as Managing Director and President Asia Pacific at Van Cleef & Arpels.
In 2011, he first joined DFS Group as Managing Director and Regional President, North Asia, Hong Kong and held this position until 2017.
Vuchot was appointed as President of Asia Pacific for cosmetics and fragrance retailer Sephora before rejoining DFS Group in 2020 to become Chairman and CEO. ✈
