Accor appoints new managing director of MGallery and Mercure brands

16-Nov-2011 - Last updated on 18-Mar-2024 at 14:55 GMT

Jonathan Sheard will be responsible for leading MGallery and Mercure hotels including subsideries, managed hotels and franchisees

International hotel operator Accor has appointed Jonathan Sheard as managing director for the MGallery and Mercure hotel brands across the UK and Ireland.

Sheard joined Accor in 1992 as general manager of Novotel Sheffield and later became director of operations for Mercure UK. He will be responsible for leading MGallery and Mercure hotels including subsideries, managed hotels and franchisees.

“This is a really exciting time for MGallery and Mercure hotels in the UK,” said Sheard. “We have ambitious growth plans and both brands are well positioned in the upper and midscale markets to attract new partners to Accor. I am extremely proud to be working with these great brands at such an interesting time.”

The brands

MGallery, Accor’s upscale brand, launched in the UK last month with the inauguration of St Ermin’s Hotel in St James. The collection will grow to over 150 sites by late 2015. Mid-market brand Mercure has more than doubled its UK footprint this year with 70 hotels.

Jean-Jacques Dessors, chief operating officer of Accor UK and Ireland, said: “Jonathan has great knowledge of the UK market and extensive experience within Accor where he has played a key role in the repositioning of Novotel as well as being instrumental in the growth of Mercure hotels.

“His knowledge of operations will be incredibly valuable as we continue to follow our ambitious expansion plan to open 300 Accor hotels in the UK by 2015.”

The appointment is with immediate effect.